If I were to classify the kind of stereotype about the disabled in Robert Zemeckis’ “Forrest Gump” according to Barnes’ list, I believe it would fall under “The Disabled Person as Pitiable and Pathetic“. (Barnes, 1990)
In this film, not only one but two disabled character were portrayed: the intellectually disabled Forrest, and the physically disabled Dan. Referring to Lieutenant Dan’s character, Kristen Lopez from Forbes Magazine says: “[…]But he also represents the same static, boring tropes that we’re still seeing in disability cinema today.” (Lopez 2019)
Moreover, we cannot deny that this film has done a good job reflecting the challenges which disabled people face as a result of the surrounding people’s harsh reactions towards their disability. While this can be considered an advantage, it also reinforced a stereotype which states that the disabled are usually represented as characters we should feel sorry for; Forrest himself is the biggest example as he was portrayed as a highly victimized character.
There is no doubt that since the global movement for disability rights in the 1980s, slight improvement have been made, but according to Ginsburg, the media has to work harder to set the new normal. (Ginsburg, 2016)
Reference List
Barnes, C. (1990). DISABLING IMAGERY AND THE MEDIA. Rybur
Ginsburg, Faye, 2016. Cripping The Infrastructure: Disability, Media And “The New Normal” Working Papers in Anthropology 2(3). Leuven: KU Leuven.
Lopez, K. (2019, July 5). ‘Forrest Gump’ at 25: Disability Representation (For Better and Worse). Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenlopez/2019/07/05/forrest-gump-at-25-disability-representation-for-better-and-worse/#66108196664d
Mira's Trail of Thoughts 