Like many, I was fooled by society’s representation of those who live with a disability. As a young child, pity and sympathy were the first thoughts that came to mind when I would see someone so outwardly different from me, whether that be physically or mentally. But who can blame a child, when their exposure and perception of disability comes primarily from the media and existing social stigma?
It was only last year that that I was given the opportunity to immerse myself in the lives of children living with either vision or hearing impairment, autism, down-syndrome or other intellectual disabilities at St Gabriels, a special needs school. Throughout the week, I was confronted with the vastly different ways these children learnt in the classroom, interacted with each other and their teachers, as well as their individual personalities and quirks. I distinctly remember the way their faces would light up in moments of triumph, achievement or passion; memories that left a lasting impact on the way I saw those with disabilities. My feelings no longer came from a place of pity but rather empathy and understanding. Ideally, everyone should seek out opportunities like this, however I know it’s not realistic, which is why it is important to look to the media as a catalyst for representation and breaking social stigma.
Arguably the most recent and influential children’s film centred around a protagonist with a disability is Wonder (2017), based on the bestselling children’s book by R.J Palacio. The film explores themes of empathy, acceptance and resilience through the lens of Auggie Pullman, a ten-year-old boy with a craniofacial disorder (Treacher Collins Syndrome), who transitions from home school to public school for the first time. While the film does bring the experiences of those living with a visible disability to mainstream audiences and sparks conversation surrounding inclusion and adversity, it has also copped criticism for the way that disability is represented. The success and feel-good nature of Wonder can be boiled down to one main aspect; the focus on Auggie’s humanity rather than his condition. The film portrays Auggie as a multi-layered character with hopes, fears and passions, while also emphasising his intelligence, humour and kindness towards others. Audiences come to love Auggie’s videogame and Star-Wars addiction, making him a relatable character to many through other means than his appearance. Through Auggie’s perspective, viewers are encouraged to look beyond his disability, which could be interpreted as call to action from the disabled community. Furthermore, the film effectively utilises a multi-perspective approach, revealing how Auggie’s family is impacted by his disorder, in turn providing viewers with a more holistic understanding of disability.
While Wonder does bring this underrepresented perspective to mainstream media, this hasn’t stopped the film from receiving significant backlash from the disabled community and critics. It is a known fact that Jacob Tremblay, the actor who plays Auggie Pullman, doesn’t have a facial disorder of any kind and had to endure two hours of makeup and prosthetics per day in order to play his character. This could be interpreted as treating disability as a costume that can be taken on and off when the timing is right instead of providing authentic representation and greater visibility for actors with facial disorders. According to a study by Ruderman White Paper, 95% of disabled characters in top ten TV shows are played by non-disabled actors, seemingly portraying this as a trend in the film and television industry. Furthermore, neither the director, author nor any of the production crew was known to have had a craniofacial disorder. R.J Palacio, the author of Wonder has stated herself that the inspiration for the novel came from a place of guilt and pity after encountering a young girl with a facial disability, and fleeing the scene with her children, which she immediately regretted. Treacher Collins Syndrome, a disorder which affects 1 in 50,000 children worldwide, would statistically mean that over 6,500 people in the US alone could have been involved in the film in some way; through directing, screenplay or acting.
In conclusion, Wonder has positively contributed to disability representation in mainstream media, while also highlighting the need to amplify the voices of those with lived experience. The film’s uplifting message of acceptance, inclusion and ability to look beyond one’s disability has made significant impact; yet it is evident that there is still room for authentic representation of those with disabilities on and off-screen.
This piece is a part of the Year 10 Student Showcase.
