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The Wonders


"A surreal and exotic thing, a finely wrought interrogation of the ways we ...
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Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

Created: 01/28/15

Replies: 9

Posted Jan. 28, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

Leon asks himself about the disability activists who questioned the role of the Wonders, "Were he and Kathryn and Christos, the beautiful monsters, making everything worse for the different ones who were not beautiful?" What do you think? Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?


Posted Feb. 10, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lorik

Join Date: 08/25/14

Posts: 19

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

I can definitely see both sides to this. The disability activists felt that The Wonders were exploiting them by celebrating and making loads of money off of the unique differences they had, when the others were struggling in the day-to-day world.

The activists had unique features that were not amazing to others, and in many cases they felt gawked at for their conditions. Here, there were celebrities with unique qualities who were using them in ways that might have felt to some as reminiscent of a side show act.

Yet The Wonders brought attention to the ways they were differently abled, and perhaps might have even opened their audiences' eyes up to the fact that all of us can be beautiful for our differences. Whether that worked or not was not explored in the story, but it would have made an interesting thread.


Posted Feb. 10, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
pennyp

Join Date: 03/22/12

Posts: 353

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

I think the Wonders were seen both as being exploited and being used. They were used for their differences to the entertainment of others. On the other hand they did show that their differences did not stop them from leading their lives. The disabilities group did not see them as benefiting the disabled as a whole


Posted Feb. 11, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
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jant

Join Date: 07/15/14

Posts: 28

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

I believe most disability activists are fighting for equal access to basic individual rights. They want to be able to enter any theater, public building, school etc. They want to be considered for employment for their strengths not their weaknesses. I don't believe activists would care for the exploitation of the Wonders' differences. The Wonders were basically a circus act - taking the attention away from the disabled's fight. The conversations around the Wonders was about their fame not about how they coped with their disability. Also, Christos elected to have his "disability" which I'm sure would anger those coping everyday with genetic disabilities or disabilities due to an accident.


Posted Feb. 11, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
LindaB.

Join Date: 06/11/14

Posts: 80

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

I agree with Jan, that it was particularly difficult for those with disabilities to embrace Christos since he did elect to have his disability (which also made him the least likeable character, in my opinion). Perhaps there was a bit of jealously as well since these "disabled" people were getting all kinds of money and recognition and they were not.


Posted Feb. 11, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebajane

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 320

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

I think it was more the exploitation of the Wonders. Many disabled people have a difficult time making ends meet, surviving in this world and the Wonders had neither of those. But in some ways, their suffering was just as great


Posted Feb. 13, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

For me the whole part of the story about the disability activist objections did not make sense. These three people were not disabled in any normal human function. They had mechanical assistance that was implanted on the guys part and Kathryn's wool was not skin but aside from that she was normal.


Posted Feb. 14, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Suzanne

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 281

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

Certainly I agree with joyces. But the way the story was written, as a fairy tale, the author may have felt she needed to add a little punch to the Wonders' lives.


Posted Feb. 17, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
muniyeca

Join Date: 02/17/15

Posts: 1

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

I really thought that the disability activists went about the whole thing wrong. Why not, instead, approach the wonders and try to use these "disabled" (I agree with joyces on them not being disabled in any normal sense) stars and use it to publicize the plight of the disabled community. I'm thinking of a "The More You Know" type campaign. It would have been a Win for the Wonders as well, as it would be good publicity to be helping out the less fortunate.


Posted Mar. 10, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Why do the disability activists take issue with the Wonders?

There are many good answers above. I agree that it is a combination of the Wonders being promoted as a kind of freak show for monetary gain without any word about the world needing some kindness and acceptance for disabilities. I did not feel sympathy for Christos since his surgery was not only strange but a choice.


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