Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Disability in Mad Max

Tags: activism, entertainment, networking, reading, science fiction
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  • 3 comments
arielstarshadow

arielstarshadow

May 29 2015, 17:02:15 UTC 6 years ago

I wish I had more time to respond, but I'll say that I disagree with the author here - in no small part because as the author herself points out, disability and disfigurement is found in both the "good" and "bad" guys. That makes the entire argument about disability/disfigurement being used as a visual cue for "evil" fall apart.

The "disabled" are presented as simply part of this world - in many ways, far more a part of the world than they are allowed to be in reality. The mechanic whose legs no longer work (and lest we forget - he wasn't stuck in the bus with the children, he was on top of the rig, fighting along with the rest - the other person on top of that rig was a woman by the by), Furiosa, etc. - all are allowed to use their talents to their utmost. None of them are coddled or denied a life. These people aren't gawked at or the subject of whispered conversations about their capability.

I found this post by someone who is missing her left arm the same way Furiosa is as a wonderful testament:

http://nospockdasgay.tumblr.com/post/119381643753/my-reaction-to-mad-max-fury-road-and-the-utter
ysabetwordsmith

Yes...

ysabetwordsmith

May 29 2015, 17:08:47 UTC 6 years ago

>> disability and disfigurement is found in both the "good" and "bad" guys. That makes the entire argument about disability/disfigurement being used as a visual cue for "evil" fall apart. <<

That's what it sounded like to me. Disability is simply ubiquitous throughout most of the setting, because it is a shitty post-apocalyptic world with tons of contamination and violence but little health care. Well, that's what you get.

I love the other post!
arielstarshadow

Re: Yes...

arielstarshadow

May 29 2015, 17:15:50 UTC 6 years ago

Disability is simply ubiquitous throughout most of the setting, because it is a shitty post-apocalyptic world with tons of contamination and violence but little health care

Precisely - and the reason a lot of Immortan Joe's followers are so filthy/diseased isn't just because of the radiation, it's also because he limits their access to water. You know, that stuff you need to be healthy, inside and out. The reason his family and Wives are so clean is because they have free and easy access to that water that's denied to everyone else.

There's a really great scene, actually, when we first really see the wives - they are rinsing the dust from the hellacious dust storm Furiosa just deliberately drove into to lose the war parties pursuing them. And all I could think was "WTF ARE YOU DOING, WASTING ALL THAT WATER?!?!" It just perfectly demonstrates that these young women have grown up not having to worry about water - which is rare and astonishing given they are in the desert. When Max sees them, he's completely taken aback. You can see the wheels turning in his head "Is this a mirage? WTF is this?" And once he realizes it's real? The only thing he cares about is getting the water. He doesn't give a damn about the pretty young girls.