Share inclusion stories, pictures, tidbits, and personal narrative for all kinds of inclusion!
Fantasy Isn't a Good Enough Excuse - Disability representation in recent M. Night Shyamalan films
Fantasy Isn't a Good Enough Excuse
(MANY thanks to Dominick Ławniczak Evans , David M. Perry and the #FilmDis Twitter community for inspiring the following piece) It may be true, despite what has been suggested in the past, that while director M. Night Shyamalan is a lesser director to one Steven Spielberg, his style and thematic patterns more closely match those of another classic filmmaker: Alfred Hitchcock.
whoistheo.com




Enh, I have mixed feelings about this piece. As member of a plural system, I'm disappointed that plurals and abuse survivors have been made into the stock villains yet again. Even if people are looking into what it means to be DID/plural, or exploring the implications of abuse and the lack/availability of support systems, I think there are constructive and non-constructive ways to explore those themes. Using the tried and true scary multi trope really isn't going to go anywhere revolutionary at this point.
Personally, I have no problem with system mates being portrayed as funny or charming--we're people as much as anyone else. The thought that my system and I should Always Be Suffering And Sad Because DID Is Horrible and Debilitating honestly creeps me out. Our system, especially the traumagenic portion, does have its issues, but being plural is far from a death sentence. It's hard for many singlets to grasp, but when you've gone through hell together, you actually start to LIKE each other and enjoy yourselves some, even the meaner folks.
I'll spare you my extended rant on the disturbing you-must-suffer-this-much-for-your-existence-to-be-considered-inoffensove philosophy, but I will say this: for me, it's more a question of whether we're being laughed with or laughed at. Considering the core premise of Split, I'd be genuinely surprised if it was the former as opposed to the latter. While we haven't seen the film ourselves (likely wouldn't be able to handle watching in our present overall state) we know of many systems of all varieties who are opposing this film and it's portrayal of DID. (just take a look at www.splitmoviehurts.com)
All that said, I definitely agree that "it's fantasy" is not a good excuse at all, and I'm glad Shyamalan's grievous portrayals of mental illness are being discussed in greater depth. I hope one day the film industry will be able to move past the cookie cutter tropes on mental illness and tell stories that are much more interesting, nuanced, and relateable to the neuroypical and neurodivergent viewer alike. If there were any medium that could offer an accurate portrayal of the plural experience, film would be it.
-W
Hey! Thank you so much for your comment.
It's true that I don't fully understand or appreciate the plural experience, but as someone with OCD, depression and anxiety, I felt that writing about disability tropes in M. Night's films was a necessary compulsion.
I'm not in disagreement that film can be a great medium for exploring mental illness - VR could probably do it as well - but my argument was that Shyamalan is not the filmmaker with the right perception or attitude to be pulling it off. He tends more towards the unexplained, the beyond and such. In those terms, Split works as entertainment (which I still enjoy). Where it loses footing is by trying to ground it in real world rules, labels and even stereotypes, not to mention a misguided if well intentioned philosophy of finding strength within - as he has called - "the broken".
It's such a shame, really, as it IS very well crafted and character sensitive at times. In a way, the movie is a step in the right direction, but not quite fully forward. More curved.
I recommend seeing the film anyways. As a moviegoer, a critic AND someone with disabilities, I am not opposed to the movie having been made or being a winner at the box office. However, always keep a critical eye open, and have your keyboard at the ready.
Thanks again!
I'm curious, in what ways would you consider Split a step in the right direction? Is it from a characterization standpoint, a research standpoint, or something else?
Personally, I don't consider it much of a step at all, but it's possible we have different values concerning what entails progressive representation.
-W
nah, we ain't watchin'. not soon at least. we couldn't do it without a lot of discomfort from everyone who isn't Marty or a major fight, trust me on this one.
(hashtag)thepluralexperience
-S
Well, I didn't mean a full forward step. I wrote curved, by which I'm referencing that the movie does attempt some complexity with its "villain" and heroine. It makes a statement that from abuse can come strength, but that it's up to the individual how best to put it to use. For good or for bad. This is a curve, because there is sort of a decent heart to this, just horribly misguided. It can be interpreted as backhanded progress or well meaning regression. Either way, it is a step, just not balanced properly or grounded much.
I think our values are similar if not exact - I'm just wording things funny. It's a fault of mine :)
In place of Split, I'd recommend The Lego Batman Movie as a fun movie outing.
Hey, no worries, that happens to me all the time. It's not unusual for folks to make the same point while using different wording. I do think that Shyamalan's tried here and that he did do more research than average, Me Myself and Irene caliber multi films. I wish he had also taken plural activism and the swaths of plural voices discussing the stigmatization of DID to heart, but.. it is what it is.
I'll quit rambling now!
-W
i had no idea that existed. we still have to finish nolan's Batman tho. i know what I'm doing tonight.
-S
Lego Batman is quite great. A different feel from The Dark Knight Trilogy, but still excellent. It leaves Batman v Superman in the dust.
oh man I heard Batman v Superman was so bad. not even good-bad. i BET Lego would do a better film than it. one of us saw the first lego movie and liked it so i'll check it out, thanks for the recommendation and for letting us derail.
-S
Thanks for the post and the great discussion! I'm always looking for better examples, are there any movies/other media that do a GOOD job of portraying DID/plural people? The most sensitive one I can think of is an episode in the show Lie to Me, but I'm pretty ignorant on the topic so I'd love to know if you think that's a positive example or if you know of others.