Disability/Race/Community

[bluhairedmonky]

I'm sure many of you have heard about the movie "Tropic Thunder", which stars Robert Downey Jr. in blackface and Ben Stiller portraying an intellectualy disabled individual. Many activists in the disabled community have protested this movie (including myself), and rightfully so. However, I'm getting sick of hearing "How come people get all bent

Comments

[fire_fly]

Miss Crip Chick also has a post about these issues: http://crip-power.com/2008/08/24/one-last-post-on-tropic-thunder/
(And if you, bluehairedmonkey have already seen it, then I link for the benefit of the others who haven't seen it, or Miss Crip Chick's blog.)

I don't have much more to add. I think you guys have said it all.

[bluhairedmonky]

I love Miss Crip Chick's blog! I even replied to that post she made (with the user name "shesabibliophile") and have replied to a few other posts she wrote. That blog should definitely be seen by everyone.

[lovmelovmycats]

Arrrrgh, damn Tropic Thunder. I don't want to see it because of the shit I've read about it. I took a person off my friends list because he was like, "It was the best movie, you're being PC!" when I asked him what he thought about the blackface and the ablist language.

[lokilokust]

personally, i found the blackface (and the reaction of other characters in the film to it) to be one of the more successful bits of satire int eh film that really did skewer hollywood's inherent racism.
i also found the whole bit with ben stiller's character having won awards and ridiculous amounts of acclaim for badly portraying a disabled character to be spot on.
however, the continuous use of certain terms and pretty much everything past the first twenty minutes or so rather ruined the movie.
what could have been a good and important satire on hollywood just turned into another hollywood shitfest.

[lovmelovmycats]

Huh! Thank you for your input!

[roseofjuly]

Yes, I initially flipped out when I heard Downey was doing the blackface thing (I didn't know about Stiller playing someone disabled), but calmed down when I found out it was supposed to be a satire of some sorts. It sounded like a really good idea at the time, but I still haven't seen the movie, so I can't judge. But it looks like it's going to be shit.

[crafting_change]

Thank you for both sharing your experience and outrage. The intersectionality that is, simply, reality leaves so many individual with no space to claim as theirs and safe.

...and that movie - no matter its claims of satire... it is so sad (but I suppose to others it might affirm their experiences of racism/othering/oppression) to see so many individuals praise it (I'm looking at you Jon Stewart) that I previously thought of as 'getting it.'

[bluhairedmonky]

Yes, I was so upset when Jon Stewart said "This movie is so very, very...FUNNY!"

Not that I think Jon Stewart is void of racist/sexist/ablist/etc ideas, but I, like you, thought he GOT IT. If that makes any sense. A little piece of my heart died after that. But as long as Stephen Colbert doesn't say anything ridiculous, I may be okay.

[crafting_change]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/toby-keiths-pro-lynching_b_115526.html

no luck sadly

[malfeasanceses]

:( I hate when they let us down.

[sunnies]

I'm just waiting for someone to come in and say "how is disability a feminist issue?".

Thank you for this post.

where to get involved

[mamabeast]

look in to ADAPT (www.APAPT.org), join your local Center for Independent Living ( CIL) (http://www.virtualcil.com/), is there a local Speaking for Ourselves (speaking.org) branch near you, if not, start one..........

I volenteer at my local CIL (www.TRIPIL.com), I refer people to services they need to stay in the community and out of nursing homes, we go to politicans offices and let them know that PWDs need more funding to be a valued part of society

Re: where to get involved

[bluhairedmonky]

Thanks for the links. I've heard of ADAPT and CIL, but not Speaking for Ourselves. I'll look into it.