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"
______________________________________________________________________________
 
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