This video essay from Questing Refuge on disability representation and radical visibility in Star Wars is excellent and appreciated.
In this video, I hope to highlight why aesthetic choices like we see with The Mods can make a lot of sense by exploring groups in real lifeCompassion Isn't CoddlingPeople often mistake compassion for “being nice,” but it’s not.The point of compassion isn’t to soften bad news or stressful situations with niceties. It’s to come from a... More that choose to stand out. how The Mods make disability representation in Star Wars better, and the importance and powerThe 20th Century political scientist Karl Deutsch said, “Power is the ability not to have to learn.”I quote this statement often, because I think it’s one of the most important... More of choosing to be visible, especially for marginalizedFor me this space of radical openness is a margin a profound edge. Locating oneself there is difficult yet necessary. It is not a “safe” place. One is always at... More groups like disabledThe label "disabled" means so much to me. It means I have community. It means I have rights. It means I can be proud. It means I can affirm myself... More people.
Improving Disability Representation in Star Wars | One Scene for Joy – YouTube
A lot of people said The Mods from The Book of Boba Fett don’t fit in Star Wars or at least not on Tatooine.
And they don’t.
Which makes them pretty damn relatable as a disabled person since the general view of society is we should not exist.
Many assume we are a mistake, something that eventually will be prevented or eliminated as technology improves, despite the fact that many of us enjoy our lives. Some of us even take pride in our differencesOur friends and allies at Randimals have a saying, What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world.Randimals We agree. Randimals are made up of two different animals... More.
Which is why I was filled with joy to see this scene where a Mod named Skad is reporting in to Boba Fett.
Improving Disability Representation in Star Wars | One Scene for Joy – YouTube
The video even touches on disability dongles
Disability DongleA well intended and elegant, yet useless solution to a problem we never knew we had. Disability Dongles are most frequently conceived of and created in design schools and... More, cyborgs
I know you think cyborgs are always imminent. But not here yet. However, I am a cyborg. And cyborgs are first and foremost disabled people. We’re the ones who have... More, and tryborgsMost cyborgs are disabled people who interface with technology. We depend on a computer for some major bodily function. The tryborg — a word I invented — is a nondisabled... More. This line aptly distills the tension between cyborgs and tryborgs.
This is something I may explore more in a future video but the point I want to make here is the focus is always on what the Tryborgs want instead of what Cyborgs want.
And, yes! Please do a video on disability donglesDisability DongleA well intended and elegant, yet useless solution to a problem we never knew we had. Disability Dongles are most frequently conceived of and created in design schools and... More.
The video concludes with an appreciation of visibility very much aligned with our philosophy at Stimpunks
Stimpunk combines “stimming” + “punk” to evoke open and proud stimming, resistance to neurotypicalization, and the DIY culture of punk, disabled, and neurodivergent communities. Instead of hiding our stims, we... More.
Because being overly visible, we get to flip the script, express loudly that we take pride in our differences, to question the limits society tries to put on humanity, as well as send a message to others out there that they are not aloneAloneness is a characteristic that many creatives embrace and yearn for. Being alone is anything but lonely. Reading, writing, and creating art all demand a personal space where one can... More, that they can be proud of who they are as well. And sometimes, most importantly, if they’re struggling, there are other ways of being out there, more options exist. And in that beauty of pushing to expand rather than conform it ultimately helps everyone.
Improving Disability Representation in Star Wars | One Scene for Joy – YouTube
StimpunkStimpunk combines “stimming” + “punk” to evoke open and proud stimming, resistance to neurotypicalization, and the DIY culture of punk, disabled, and neurodivergent communities. Instead of hiding our stims, we... More combines “stimming
Self-stimulatory behavior, also known as stimming and self-stimulation, is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, or words, or the repetitive movement of objects Stimming - Wikipedia Autistic adults highlighted the importance of stimming as... More” + “punk
Everything that was normally supposed to be hidden was brought to the front.Punk subculture - Wikipedia The First Rule of Punk: Be Yourself Our Second Rule of Punk: Reframe The... More” to evoke open and proud stimming, resistance to neurotypicalization, and the DIYIn the arts, bricolage (French for "DIY" or "do-it-yourself projects") is the construction or creation of a work from a diverse range of things that happen to be available, or... More culture of punk, disabled, and neurodivergent
Neurodivergent, sometimes abbreviated as ND, means having a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.”NEURODIVERSITY: SOME BASIC TERMS & DEFINITIONS Neurodivergent is quite... More communities
What I have always been hoping to accomplish is the creation of community.Community is magic. Community is power. Community is resistance.Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Visibility-First-Person-Stories-Twenty-First-ebook/dp/B082ZQBL98/ https://www.amazon.com/Disability-Visibility-Adapted-Young-Adults-ebook/dp/B08VFT4R9T/... More. Instead of hiding our stimsSelf-stimulatory behavior, also known as stimming and self-stimulation, is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, or words, or the repetitive movement of objects Stimming - Wikipedia Autistic adults highlighted the importance of stimming as... More, we bring them to the front.
Everything that was normally supposed to be hidden was brought to the front.
Punk subculture – Wikipedia
Visit Questing Refuge for more great video essays on disability representation.
Further reading
There are three types of reading: eye reading, ear reading, and finger reading.The Dyslexia Empowerment Plan: A Blueprint for Renewing Your Child's Confidence and Love of Learning Most schools and... More,
