Star Wars and Disability

Alex_Alumni
Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
in Coffee lounge
It would be wrong of me to let Star Wars Day go by without posting about it in some way, yes it's "May the 4th Be With You" day :) 

I'd like to explore how disability is represented in this franchise, and what you think about it. Whether it be from films old or new, TV series, Books or otherwise, it's a big galaxy out there, but perhaps it's not so far away after all..

More Machine than Man

Darth Vader is perhaps the most well known example of a disabled character, using an all body breathing/mobility aid, and being made of of mostly machine, due to an unfortunate meeting with a lava river in his past. 


I'm one with the Force. The Force is with me.

Chirrut Îmwe, a deeply spiritual warrior with "sightless eyes" is another example, from the more modern Rouge One, my favourite of the newer films.


It's also interesting to think about the Dark and Light side of the Force, where one is ruled by anger and fear, the other focusing on defense and a connection to all living things/beings.

Do these representations put disability, in whatever form, in a good or bad light?

Can you name any other examples of mental health issues, neurodiversity, or physical disability represented within the Star Wars universe? 

I'll leave you with a quote from Master Yoda: "You will only find what you bring in" :) 
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Comments

  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Is this a good time to admit I've never watched Star Wars? Probably not, there's never a good time to admit that, but it's interesting to read about some of the connection between the franchise and disability.

    Of course, we can't mention Star Wars without thinking about @Grinchy and their amazing collection of merch :) 
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    Indeed, it's an impressive collection @Grinchy that's for sure :) 

    And as shocked as I am, there's still time to watch Ross- I'd have thought it'd be right up your street!
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 15,316 Championing
    I have never watched Star Wars either :|
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    Ah @66Mustang, as with Ross, all I can do is recommend it, but no judgement if it's not for you! :) 
  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 15,316 Championing
    @Alex_Scope

    I do know that Darth Vader is the baddie though!

    I didn’t know about his disabilities.

    It does seem that the characters with disabilities are often the baddies (obviously there are exceptions) which is perhaps a bit unfair.
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    It's true it's a common trope @66Mustang! 

    Star Wars is a good example of this trope, with Darth Vader previously mentioned, and some of the biggest villains, the Emperor and Snoke being physically disfigured. General Grievous has asthma too, which is possibly a stretch, but still!

    But it also features 'good' characters who are almost deified and could also be identified as disabled, like Yoda, who is 66cm tall and has limited mobility when not using the force to move around.

    There's also Chirrut who I mentioned earlier, a very spiritual blind monk, and even Luke Skywalker in his later years is considered legendary, and had his arm amputated, replaced with a robot arm.

    The Jedi also use mindfulness techniques to manage their emotions, and acknowledge their thoughts, but don't always act on them. I'm sure there are a few characters who expeirence PTSD and other mental trauma too.
  • Kelf28
    Kelf28 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    hi there, i have just recently finished watching the star wars films i thought they were really good. does anyone have a favourite character from the movies  :)
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    Hello @Kelf28 I'm glad to hear you enjoyed them :)

    It's hard to pick one, but I think my favourite is R2D2, even though we can't understand them, we definitely know how they are feeling! Some excellent sound design at work. 

    What about you? 
  • Kelf28
    Kelf28 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    hello @Alex_Scope i totally agree about R2D2 i really like the design and the story that comes with it. For me personally i would say ray and finn who both were in the later films are my favouite although c3po is good too.
  • Grinchy
    Grinchy Online Community Member Posts: 1,953 Championing
    Wow, another star wars thread, lol, thanks for the nice comments on my collection, i never thought of the disabilities, Vader is a bad character, he was bad before his encounter with the lava, he had already turned to the dark side of the force due to his lust for power and the longing to save his wife padme, the burning and subsequent disfigurement only increased his rage, so he is bad despite his disability, great thread, my favourite character is Luke, growing up as an abused child i most identified with him, the longing for a better life than he had on the desert planet of tattoine, my favourite movies are the original three from the seventies and eighties, star wars, empire strikes back and return of the jedi, with jedi being my utmost favourite
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    That's a really good point @Grinchy Vader was indeed bad, before he became 'Vader', and I'm really glad to hear you like the thread!

    There's so many different aspects of the Star Wars world we can all relate to in different ways, that's what I like so much about it. Plus the films came out across generations too, so it becomes a shared experience that is passed on :)

    Out of everyone, Luke has one of the longest and most involved story arcs for the viewer, although you could argue Obi-Wan falls into that category too- I'm looking forward to the new 'Obi-Wan' series I must say...
  • Grinchy
    Grinchy Online Community Member Posts: 1,953 Championing
    Hey @Alex_Scope, it is a very varied story, and yes can't wait for the new obi series on disney +, glad your enjoying the saga
  • Bookworm1999
    Bookworm1999 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Connected
    My favourite disabled character in Star Wars has got to be Kanan in the Rebels series! 
  • emancherry33
    emancherry33 Online Community Member Posts: 3,640 Trailblazing
    Hanna the hut no legs, rather fat,slid around
  • emancherry33
    emancherry33 Online Community Member Posts: 3,640 Trailblazing
    Gabba the hut .. bloody spell check..
  • Jo_2022
    Jo_2022 Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering
    Aww I missed seeing this post on May the 4th @Alex_Scope :|

    Happy Star Wars Day!! I loved reading this and thanks so much for sharing Star Wars with us all.

    My friend from Uni is a big fan of Star Wars. She introduced me to the franchise and I've watched a few episodes.

    We both melt seeing Baby Yoda, a favorite character! I never thought of how disability is represented in Star Wars...  :)       
  • life
    life Online Community Member Posts: 526 Empowering
    Star wars the best and getting better and better it never takes a step back.

    Fennec Shand was a baddie but became a goodie ( or as good as she can be lol) when Boba fett saved her life. her damaged organs were replaced with cyber implants so a reverse Vader?
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    Thanks @life that's an interesting comparison, I might have to steal the phrase 'reverse Vader' :) 

    I really must get on with watching all the new series' on Disney +, I've heard some very good things about them. Andor next I think? 
  • life
    life Online Community Member Posts: 526 Empowering
    Ya I still need to watch Obi wan and that's been out about 2 weeks now lol 

    Yes the follow up to rogue one that should be good. Ahsoka( Rosario Dawson) is the the one I've been waiting for but won't be out until around 2023 lol I liked her in the Mandalorian.
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    So many of them now, it really is impressive how they've expanded the universe!

    I suppose universes are so big, of course there are a lot of stories to share, which is why it's important that we see ourselves represented in a way :)

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