Instructions: Read the questions first. Then look at the attachments because the questions are based on the attached reading. For #2 click at the link at the end of the questions. You don't need to pu

Forrest’ s strong ability to run fast and for long durations opened up opportunities for football in high school and college which he became very proficient in. Forrest then joins the army, and after receiving awards for saving dozens of soldiers in Vietnam and bei ng injured himself, Forrest is placed into a Veteran hospital where he again uncovers one of his many talents, ping pong. As we watch the weeks and months in the hospital go by , Forrest again finds one of many talents that he exceeds well in and is approac hed by professional ping pong teams, they offer him a chance to play around the world where he proceeds to defeat all competitors. The last scene we witness Forrest overcoming his disability is after the military. Forrest returns home and one day decides t o go for a run and ends up running for two years around the country, because his childhood friend Jenny once again leaves him. These various scenes highlight not only his talents, but that Forrest does not perform the way someone with an intellectual disab ility does, being problematic for the viewing audience. By offsetting the deficiencies and focusing on Forrest’s extraordinary feats, his supercripdom, makes his disability ‘go away’. His disability becomes more ‘pleasant’ and less fearful to the viewing a udience. Forrest physical advancement makes a more desirable character and helps to compensate for his intellectual disability. The main character Forrest, lives with both an intellectual disability and physical impairment. He was born with a weak spine but with strong legs. Writers and producers have portrayed his character to have a multitude of talents to overshadow his disability. For the duration of the movie , Forrest’s character overcomes his impairment by unraveling his unique talents and skills , making his character’s depiction of intellectual disability unrealistic and supporting the myth that “ the disabled character in films must be very good at something ” (Dolmage 40) . Those around Forrest are mesmerized by his ability to perform and Johnson 3 overcome adversity because Forrest does not act the way his disability normally entails. The film is trying to convey that Forrest has a disability that sets him apart from everyone, which he overcomes this stigma through his unique skills and talents. What makes Forrest likable to the viewing audience is his ability to never be brought down by life and rather overcome obstacles by discovering new talents. Writers and producers want the audience to put themselves in Forrest’s shoes, and pose the question of how the y would compensate for a disability similar to Forrest’s. This character is problematic because he makes those without disabilities create an assumption that every disabled individual must have a talent or skill. In reality, those who live life with a disa bility are not always gifted or have the ability to overcome their impairment. Forrest’s character is unrealistic and does not demonstrate someone with an intellectual disability. Rather they are focusing on making the audience feel a certain way through t he portrayal of Forrest’s character. As viewers, we overlook the negative aspects of his life because of the constant reminder of his many gifts. Writers have made his character to be an inspiration to those around Forrest and the viewing audience. An art icle written by Wendy Chrisman’s “A Reflection on Inspiration: A Recuperative Call for Emotion in Disability Studies” discusses the label of inspiration that has been placed on those with disabilities. She writes: Inspirational narratives often carry the attendant baggage of pity and fear, suggesting that disability can and should automatically evoke sympathy or concern from the audience — concern that people with disabilities might be a social or economic burden, a concern of becoming disabled themselves ( C hrisman 1) . Chrisman writes in her article that when you feel inspired it should be about feeling or doing something, rather than feeling inspired based on pity, fear, or sympathy, which writers and Johnson 4 producers have done through the depiction of Forrest’s ch aracter in the movie. This article explains that inspirational narratives portray disability as supercrip . S upercrip means the disabled individual compensates their disability in their social and physical environment, through hard work or a hidden talent, which is demonstrated through the character Forrest. Disabled people have often been thought of as an economic burden, or not independent people. When the film focuses on Forrest’s achievements, it takes what people tend to think as the ugliness/disgust of disability, out of the equation. Writers and producers have given Forrest character these talents to overshadow his disability making the audience less fearful of disability and gives them an inspiring story instead . This story makes Forrest Gump a role model figure by his constant ability to pick himself up, and move forward with his life, along with the childlike innocence that he maintains throughout the film, making him someone that audience can praise. By creating Forrest t o be an influential figure, it makes his disability less terrifying and eases the audience's fears about disability by making his character/actions extraordinary. The indistinguishability between reality and technical work sets Forrest apart in a way tha t makes him a spectacle. The film uses effects, such as adding Forrest into old footage of presidents and historic moments to contribute to its over - the - top efforts to make Forrest’s journey through life spectacular. Many of the events Forrest character ta kes part in is improbable for a disabled or non - disabled individual. As we watch Forrest’s life unravel, he gets to meet President John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson, Elvis Presley, and attends the desegregation of University of Alabama. These ev ents and many more that are shown in the film are a way to catch the audience’s attention and focus less on his disability. Writers and producers want to focus the audience’s attention on Forrest's ability to have an impairment and be a part of these major historic events. As the viewing audience, we are mesmerized by his ability to Johnson 5 function and go about life the way he does with his disability. These visual effects are thus another excessive tool used to help Forrest inspire his audience and gain credibili ty as a skilled individual. The characterization of Forrest Gump, through his costume, demeanor, and outrageous life accomplishments is an Oscar - winning effort to make him a more likable character. Forrest Gump is never explicitly stated as having an int ellectual disability, although viewers are told that he has an IQ of 75 and is repeatedly asked if he is “stupid” throughout the film by various characters. Throughout the film, we are often only reminded he has a disability through his speech and his soci al interactions. We are constantly aware through the entire film that he is "different" from other people. Tom Hanks who plays Forrest Gump is not subject to the same disabilities as his character Forrest. From the writer’s and producer’s perspective, they have Tom Hanks speak and act in a manner they believe an individual with an intellectual disability would.

His physical appearance, however, is used by the filmmakers to communicate his intellectual disability to audience members (Schwartz, Lutfiyyah, and Hansen 182). His outward appearance serves to associate him - although degradingly - with charity and likeability. In the opening scene of Forrest Gump , Forrest’s character is sitting on a bench wearing a shirt that is uncomfortably buttoned up to the neck, white socks with colored hoops, muddy shoes, his very short haircut, and his drawl, all serve to make his identity to being one who is a man - child, lovable fool, and incorruptible simpleton (Schwartz et al, 182). His costume and speech are all part of the film’s cinematic techniques in making his character ‘likeable’ yet different. There is a notion that disabled individuals have the ability to make those around them ‘better’ people. Forrest’s character is innocent, likable, and is a static fi gure, he does not mature as the other characters do. Anne - Marie Callus for the “The Cloak of Incompetence: Johnson 6 Representations of People with Intellectual Disability in Film” discusses that the job of the disabled person should not be to make those around them “better” persons. The article writes that disabled characters are a representation of other’s self - improvement and viewers will have the tendency to see disability as a tragedy and not a normal part of human life. Another important relationship in Forrest ’s story is his friendship with Lieutenant Dan. During an attack in Vietnam, Lieutenant Dan becomes disabled losing both of his legs, leaving him as a double amputee which results in his character becoming bitter and unhopeful. Lieutenant Dan believes he i s destined to die at battle like his relatives, but Forrest saves his life and Lieutenant Dan blames him for this. Dan reacts to Forrest and his disability with anger, contempt, and even a preference for death. Forrest doesn’t recognize Lieutenant Dan’s fr ustration and bitterness and Lieutenant Dan’s mood contrasts perfectly to Forrest’s kind to a fault, upbeat nature. This puts Forrest in a place of moral superiority, making his character an even more credible human being.

Lt. Dan’s characterization reinfo rces the disability trope “that the only disability in life is a bad attitude.” This tiresome trope keeps the status quo as it reinforces the idea that disabled people have to ‘try harder and even when we ‘try harder’ we can never match up or be nondisable d. Eventually, Forrest’s childlike faith and spirit serve as a motivation for Dan to become a better person and be at peace with his disability. Forrest acts as a source of inspiration for Lieutenant Dan and makes this other character with a disability mor e acceptable to the viewers. In Vietnam Lieutenant Dan makes a promise to Forrest that if he ever became a shrimp boat captain, he would be his ‘first mate ’. Many years later Lieutenant Dan tracks down Forrest and travels with him on his boat. Lieutenant D an dies at sea quoting these last words “I never thanked you for saving my life ” ( Forrest Gump ). Without Lieutenant Dan iterating the words ‘thank you’ we as viewers recognize he has matured, grown, and deep down truly cares for Forrest. From a writer’s Johnson 7 and producer’s perspective, they use the achievements of Forrest to influence those around him to b ecome better persons. This also makes the audience believe that all disabled individuals have the ability to make other’s better people. It is not solely so much that disabled people have the ability to make others happier or better, but it is also the way in which this “charitable act” keeps the status quo going. It also makes nondisabled people to say, “no matter how bad my life is, I could be like them.” This charitable act of Forrest character is a form of paternalism and lack of equality and rather it oppresses. This additionally makes disabled people look as if they are always happy and don’t face any other struggles in their life, which is not realistic. Disabled individuals shouldn’t feel as if it is their job to make others better humans or be viewe d as a role model because they have the ability to go about life with their disability. Forrest Gump is just one example of the myth overcoming compensation. This film supports and perpetuates the myth overcoming compensation through the constant repetiti on of Forrest overcoming his disability through unique talents and skills, that many people don’t have , especially individuals subject to the same disability as Forrest. Writers and producers have used his innocent, childlike demeanor, and costume to make him more likeable for the audience. Forrest Gump is not a film that can educate the audience about disability. Films have the ability to educate viewers about disability, but they must do so in a manner that is realistic and bring ing awareness to more disabilities that individuals live with. Films such as this one, will create an assumption for those who don’t live with a disability to believe, all people with an intellectual or physical disability must go about life just like Forrest ’s character. Creating a more realistic representation would create a positive, truthful outlook and educate all non - disabled individuals. In essence, the storyline uses cinematic elements to cover up the reality of disability and instead Johnson 8 seeks to inspire audience members and gives them a tale that they are comfortable with accepting. Johnson 9 Work C ited Callus, Anne - Marie. “The Cloak of Incompetence: Representations of People with Intellectual Disability in Film.” Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies , vol. 13, no. 2, May 2019, pp. 177 – 194. Chrisman, Wendy L. “A Reflection on Inspiration: A Recuperative Call for Emotion in DisabilityStudies.” Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies , vol. 5, no. 2, July 2011, pp. 173 – 184. Dolmage, Jay Timothy. “An Archive and Anatomy of Disability Myths.” Disability Rhetoric . Syracuse University Press, 2014. Forrest Gump . Directed by Robert Zemeckis. Paramount Home Entertainment, 1994. Schwartz, Karen, et al. “ Dopey's Legacy: Stereotypical Portrayals of Intellectual Disability in the Classic Animated Films.” Diversity in Disney Films: Critical Essays on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality and Disability , by Johnson Cheu, McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2013, pp. 179 – 191.