It seems to me that in addition to Peter's observations on disabilities and their portrayal, there is one other motif here: The disability can be used to signify the disabled as only one-half of a whole Cartesean subject -- mind, but not body, the body inadequate because the mind is so great. This seems particularly true of scientists confined to wheelchairs in various sci-fi films, but also Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump, who eventually becomes Forrest's brains (investing in Apple, etc.). In real life, the popular discourse on Stephen Hawking frequently falls prey to this construction. JRG ______________________________________________________________________________ John R. Groch <[log in to unmask]> | "Work! FINISH! THEN sleep." English Department/Film Studies Program | -- The Monster, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 | "Bride of Frankenstein" ______________________________________________________________________________ ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]