The Spinning Wheel

Once upon a time, before Broadway or minstral shows, the stage was a completely different place. The message to the public was shame and negativity. For centuries women were played by cross-dressing men. African-Americans were buffoonishly portrayed by white actors in heavy black makeup. Audiences were locked in a confusing battle of images of racism and sexism that were cemented into the cultural norm.

Actors today are known for their ability to immerse themselves so deeply in a character that they seem transformed. Through Tom Hanks we explored the world of Forrest Gump, not as a baseless person sitting on a bus stop bench nibbling happily on sugar, but as a thoughtful, graceful and perceptive person that some of us could only wish we could be. Hanks brought depth to the screen and to our culture that hadn’t been shared before. I was in awe at how convincingly the story delved into a rarely-explored layer of humanity.

But the disability community has not always been portrayed so well. Like the black-faced actors of the minstral shows, a controversial character being represented was almost always a comedic poke at a painful social mole. But Marlee Matlin performing in “Children of a Lesser God” stunned me. I had never seen a deaf actor play the role of a deaf character and actually use real signs that I understood. Television shows had tried and often failed at portraying the deaf community with any sort of reality. Usually an actor with a disability was a one-time role, or a quick-quipped background character with little depth.

“Will and Grace,” “Ellen” and “Roseanne” cracked barriers for the LGBT community. Today gay and lesbian lifestyles are treated with respect in the media, and not just as a random “afternoon special.” They are portrayed as real people, with clarity and depth. Characters with disabilities are starting to see that same clarity in mainstream television. Zach Anner recently charmed Oprah Winfrey, calling himself the “the sexiest of the palsies.” He was awarded a television special on Oprah’s OWN network on the perils and rewards of traveling the world with a disability.

People with disabilities are often labeled as “wheelchair-bound,” “confined” and “special needs.” Sometimes they are so pathetic and self-destructive that they commit suicide rather than live in a “crippled” body as the case of “Million Dollar Baby.”  If one out of 10 Americans live with a disability, where are these very real people in our made-up, contrived reality just at the end of the remote?

I am a fan of “Glee,” but Artie’s character, played by Kevin McHale, makes me cringe. He may be able to sing, play guitar and woo the ladies, but the boy can’t dance in a wheelchair to save his life. This actor makes me scream “needs research!” As he is pushed around in his chair his arms have apparently lost all self motivation. The episode where he got up and danced in the mall nearly made me stop watching altogether. As a dancer, McHale was incredible, but as the character, it was a slap in the face. His character bio says that dancing is a dream he may never achieve. Artie needs some serious wheelchair dancing lessons. Either that or have his chair strapped down on a public bus and watch pieces break off every time the driver stops. With creative and educated writers, Artie’s character could portray the reality of living with an actual disability.

Not all disabled characters need be played by actors with disabilities, nor should the roles of able-bodied characters be restricted to those who are able-bodied. A character should be played by the best actor or actress for that particular part.

Media has finally taken the time to peek into the lives of “the world less seen.” TV and film bear a huge responsibility for representatives of people. It took a long time for the entertainment media to make right by African-Americans, gays and Latinos. Let’s hope the learning curve is shorter for the disabled.