Tropic Thunder is an American action and comedy film, with the plot revolving four actors making a fictional Vietnam War movie with DreamWorks and Paramount companies backing it. The film was written by Ben Stiller collaborating with Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen, involving stars such as action superman Tugg Speedman, comedian Jeff Portnoy, award winner Kirk Lazarus and hip-hop and rapper guru Alpa Chino. The stars are dropped off in the jungle filled with drug hostiles and enemies thus presenting their best tactics to survive a series of events follow portraying best action and comedy effects in the film. However, the film receives criticism with viewers attributing it as a sad recap that among all disadvantaged groups in America, the developmentally incapacitated are unique in the particular brand of prejudice and ridicule they endure. Tom Shiver’s article presents the most convincing arguments as the comedy film draws fire for its treatment of mentally disabled resulting in activists advocating the banning of the film in all platforms of watching.
The article captures attention when Timothy Shriver presides by highly acclaiming participants involved in the premiere to object the unlucky and embarrassing portrayal of people with intellectual debilities as well as joining coalitions and organizations to ensure their concerns are aired and solutions sought to remedy the negative presentation of disability in the film. The outcry presented by advocates and family members of the disabled who watched the film portrayed shock and disgust resulting in DreamWorks CEO Stacy Snider eliminate offensive marketing elements in the film. Also, Timothy Shriver establishes the 17 mentions of R-word and a single mention of N-word which do not arguer well with audiences of the film thus resulting in heightening the utmost seriousness in ensuring the offensive parts are eradicated considering he was not consulted initially during the airing of premiere.
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The major reason Timothy Shriver calls for the prohibition of the film is accredited to the use of retard as well as humiliation of abled differently individuals as it inspires discrimination, negative stereotypes as well as disenfranchisement for disabled people in the society. The use of retard especially in movies and films are considered to be dumb and stupid equating to depict those with disabilities as ignorant and unwise which is not always the case. The R-word should be avoided as all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights as well as endowed with reason and conscience thus should act towards establishing good relationships in a spirit of brotherhood and supporting each other. Additionally, the word retard is degrading and further exclusions and isolation in society and applying it in films because of more harm to those with intellectual disabilities. The mockery brought by the R-word especially directed to abled-differently individuals in the society is dehumanizing, stirring negative emotions that demoralize the abilities of disabled people to realize their full potential and working towards the welfare of society.
Name-calling as portrayed by Timothy Shriver in the Tropic Thunder film presents the worst-case scenario of bullying and serves to define people as well as making it difficult for victims to trust their perceptions about themselves. The victim’s sense of self is eroded through name-calling resulting in eating away self-esteem as well as causing individuals to compromise their beliefs and values, yielding to peer-pressure and opening doors to the violence as individuals act on their anger lashing out in physical ways. Also, the aftermath of name-calling encourages negative criticism trying to access the extent to which the names refer to them. Additionally, mental and physical health is adversely affected by name-calling in that victims become depressed and feel worthless and helpless in society perpetuating stigma and fear. Ridicule in the film is portrayed as malicious serving to exclude and marginalize people with intellectual disabilities.
Timothy Shriver argues that people with intellectual disabilities ought not to be despised as they present various impressive talents and abilities. The fields of sports especially soccer and athletics have evidenced disabled individuals being successful and entertaining as viewed by society. Also, those abled-differently possess skills of being productive employees and perform duties normally as compared to ordinals that portray ego and fail to execute duties diligently despite having all the capabilities required to accomplish greater results in the working environment. Furthermore, abled-differently persons serve as positive friends and role models, and under no circumstance, should creative and artistic leaders look down upon the disabled.
Films encompass pop culture and they are mirrors of the society to reprimand and bring sanity especially in their struggle to fight for the writes of less defended in the society. Although creators of Tropic Thunder portray the film as a parody, the movie provides an avenue for hurtful ammunition outside theaters and places of watching and no amount of words can soothe the negative effects and scars experienced by disabled people and the advocates representing abled-differently individuals in the society as stipulated by Timothy Shriver. However, critics and activist groups as well as organizations advocating for the prohibition of the film are right but should bear in mind that Hollywood, DreamWorks, and Paramount companies are huge brands that have supported artists and actors globally. The article by Neil Miller is agreeable to some extent as he presents the fact that the studios should not be judged by a single misunderstanding of the film but rather arbitrated by the efforts of growing and developing talents and abilities. The fight against social ills subjected to disabled individuals should be supported at all costs by making films acceptable to all human kinds.
