Coincidence?
August 5th, 2008The New York Times this morning reports what we’ve been saying — that DreamWorks has agreed to meet with representatives of disability rights organizations to listen to their concerns over Ben Stiller’s portrayal of “Simple Jack,” a character with an intellectual disability in the upcoming mega-movie “Tropic Thunder.” (Out August 13.)
And also this morning, the Dreamworks marketing website for “Simple Jack” – www.simplejackmovie.com — seems to have disappeared.
When last checked late yesterday afternoon, the site carried a promotional image of an open-mouthed, goofy-looking Stiller that carried the slogan, “Once upon a time … there was a retard.” A voiceover said, “I’ll talk to any retard I like.”
Central to the debate is the character of Simple Jack, played by Ben Stiller’s character, an actor, in the movie. Studio executives have said the film is intended to spoof Hollywood, not people with disabilities.
Groups and individuals have expressed dismay over the description of the character as a “retard” in marketing materials, and the use of words like “retard,” “moron,” and “imbecile” in the film’s script. Well over 100 comments about the film, most of them critical, have been logged here.
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August 5th, 2008 at 10:54 am
This is an opportunity to form a coalition of disability advocates dedicated to developing proactive initiatives to combat hate and ensure civil rights, empowering self-advocacy, and serving as a watch-dog to mobilize actions. It could be modeled after the Antidefamation League: http://www.adl.org/
I’m certain Steven Spielberg, founder of DreamWorks (parent company that produced “Tropic Thunder”) knows well why an organization like this is important to protect a vulnerable population.
Perhaps it would be helpful to remind DreamWorks execs that the mass-killing methods of WWII were first used and fine-tuned on people with disabilities? Perhaps they could be reminded that unquestioned language — racial slurs –and powerful caricatures were used to devalue an ethnic group to allow for genocide? Perhaps they need to be reminded that we share this history?
Slanderous language and demeaning caricatures contributing to society’s devaluation of a vulnerable group isn’t *theory*. We have our Matthew Shepherd in Brent Martin and Ashley Clark. Last November brought news of ghastly abuse in Serbia: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21790870/
In June 2007, American soldiers discovered how orphanages for disabled children are run in Iraq:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/soldiers-uncover-abuse-at-iraq-orphanage/2007/06/20/1182019166368.html
And powerful, divisive rhetoric wasn’t even required for our brothers and sisters with disabilities to be carried away to their deaths in WWII — it was overt and unquestioned. We always have to work hard to remind society how our loved ones should be valued.
Rightly so, our society works hard to prevent the devaluing of ethnic groups and we all are asked to “never forget.”
Have they forgotten us?
It is only right for DreamWorks to give seed money for this organization as recompense for profiting from unquestioned hate in the form of stereotyping and devaluing our loved ones.
Never forget.
August 5th, 2008 at 6:03 am
As an arts administrator and actor, I understand the humor of Hollywood and self mockery; however, as a mother of a recently diagnosed son with autism, this breaks my heart. I am shocked as to how a “mainstream” film company could support this, even with such heavy hitters in the business.