Your personal Tumblr journey starts here
I'm going to ask something because I genuinely don’t understand it. Why do people say things like: [Character] speaks [real-world language] because they are [real-world nationality]—(or similar things) when they were born in a fictional place that likely has its own fictional language and culture?
I get that it’s about representation, but what does that actually mean in this context? These are fictional characters from fictional universes. I’d totally understand if their story took place in a real location, like in the Marvel universe or something similar, but if the world is completely made up, then its demographics are just... different.
I just find it funny when people say it, because I don’t really get it, and I would like to get it.
Yeah disabled characters aren't people they are objects, things to protect and/or look up to. You are "brave" for enduring pain, not that you have a fucking choice in that by the fucking way.
It has to be eighter inconsequential or pretty for that matter as well. No uglyness no pain no loss of emotional regulation...be a pretty and greatfull, greatfull that you are allowed to breath.
this is usually the type of thing i'd keep to my sideblog, but. no. this rant is going on main.
this has already been said many times, but i'll say it again: the culture and portrayal of disability in media and fandom is one of crude dismissal, and it's a reflection of widespread real-world attitudes towards disabled people.
i, personally, am really really sick of it.
from what i've observed, there are two types of disabled character (and, thus, two expectations or preconceptions of real-life disabled people): one who doesn't self-advocate, and one who does.
the disabled character who doesnt advocate for themself is either a sweet, pathetic, repressed little baby who cant make their own decisions and needs to be coddled, or they're a strong, noble, inspiration porn warrior who doesn't actually have it that bad because their disability is actually, secretly a superpower.
or... both. sometimes they're both.
on the flip side, the disabled character who does advocate for themself, in a way that is intrusive and productive and realistic, is either an out-of-touch, entitled asshole, or a dramatic, crazed hypochondriac. or both.
the self-sacrificial, people-pleasing disabled character will be praised and infantilized; they are deserving of respect, and they'll set the standard for what a disabled person should be; while the self-respecting, unapologetic disabled character will be mocked and vilified so long as there is proof of their disability being an inconvenience.
in any case, the character, or at least their disability, is misrepresented and dismissed. the amputee gets a completely functional and unhampering prosthetic. the deaf or blind character adapts all too well to a hearing or sighted world, and in fact develops enhancements to their remaining senses. the disfigured person, in the case that they're not a villain, has great kindness and talent, making their physical differences almost ignorable. the paraplegic makes a miraculous recovery, with no persisting symptoms. the autist, while difficult to interact with, is a savant and a genius. forget chronic pain or fatigue; that sort of issue is invisible, and thus irrelevant. and don't even think about mentioning conditions that impact one's hygiene, digestion, or continence.
ah, and don't forget, all of these things will be used as comedic relief.
it's a culture of overcompensation. disabled people, of course, have no inherent value as people, so their value has to be constructed, and their issues disregarded. we wouldn't want to make viewers uncomfortable, now, would we?
of course, this just speaks to a larger issue; society still expects disabled people to be small and inoffensive, to apologize for the realities of their condition. the ideal disabled experience as shown in media and culture is one of shame and insecurity, and the impact of one's disability on oneself is never nearly as relevant as the impact of one's disability on the world around them. disability is only representable so long as it is palatable to an abled audience, and it is only palatable so long as the enjoyment and novelty of viewing an idealized disabled story outweigh the discomfort of viewing a realistic disabled experience.