The Problem with the “Disabled Villain” Trope
By: Katie Carr
Since the beginning of film and television, marginalized populations have been inaccurately represented and pigeonholed into tropes that cause harm and perpetuate unfounded stereotypes.
Among those affected are disabled folx, whose identities have continuously been used in the media as a visual metaphor for evil and immorality. From Disney children’s movies, to horror films, to fantasy series, all of these genres have taken advantage of the “Disabled Villain” trope.
This goes against everything we believe in here at The Nora Project. Accurate representation and meaningful inclusion is at the core of the work we do — and that includes bringing visibility to practices that harm the movement for disability equality, such as the use of the “Disabled Villain” trope.
What is the “Disabled Villain“ Trope?
The “Disabled Villain” trope is when a villain on screen has a disability or difference and writers use their condition to make them scarier and more intimidating. Their disability is also often used as a tragic backstory that is the root of their evilness — and the Disabled Villain seeks revenge on those that hurt them.
This trope began due to the outdated, untrue, and harmful belief that disabled people have conditions because they are morally corrupt or “paying for their sins.” This belief has been held for hundreds of years, across various cultures and religions, further stigmatizing disability, and its legacy is still influencing film today.
Why is it Problematic?
When kids watch films that vilify disability and use disability to otherize and demonize a character, it can be harmful in a multitude of ways. Having an integral part of one’s identity associated with negativity and evil is harmful to the formation of identity and identity pride. Being compared to or called a villain by others for no reason other than a disability is hurtful at the very least, and can have long term negative consequences on a person’s sense of safety in community and general self worth.
According to the book Disabilities: Insights from Across Fields and Around the World, disabled students are two to three times more likely to be bullied in comparison to their nondisabled classmates. The disabled villain trope contributes to this phenomenon in overt and subtle ways. For example, the trope implicitly encourages fear of disability and difference, while validating, and even elevating, those who fight against the evil, Disabled Villain. Bullying based on fear and disdain is almost a natural consequence of the trope when viewed in this light. This is compounded by the fact that disabled characters are rarely depicted by disabled actors, so sometimes the only exposure people have to disability is a highly stereotyped depiction.
Changing Faces is a charity that supports people with facial differences. Their research with Savanta ComRes found that “only 1 in 5 people with a visible difference have seen a character who looks like them cast as the hero in a film or on TV” and “even fewer (15%) have seen someone with a visible difference playing the love interest on screen.”
The organization has a campaign called “I am not your villain” that fights for equal and accurate representations of facial differences on screen. Specifically, the campaign calls on the film industry to stop using scars, burns and other facial differences as a “shorthand for villainy.”
Some Examples of the Trope
Darth Vader stands in front of a dark, plain background while holding a red light saber. He wears a black suit and cape with a mechanical control panel on his chest. He wears a black helmet that covers his entire face and head. His other hand is raised as if he is going to use “the force.”
One of the most glaring examples of the Disabled Villain in action is Darth Vader (previously known as Anakin Skywalker) from the Star Wars franchise. He starts down the path of evil and fights his mentor and trainer, Obi-wan Kenobi. In this battle Anakin is injured and thrown into a pit of lava where he sustains three lost limbs, burns all over his body, and internal damage.
He was saved by his allies on “the dark side” and given life saving procedures and medical equipment. However, his new suit that allows him to live was purposefully designed to be an intimidating, towering suit of all black clothing and machinery. In particular, his helmet covers his entire scarred face, leaving him expressionless. The mask deepens his voice while amplifying the sound of his breathing with the intention of instilling fear in others. His injury and surgeries marked the official transformation of him turning into Darth Vader and becoming the most feared person in the galaxy.
So what does Darth Vader as a character suggest about those that use equipment like oxygen masks, have prosthetic limbs, or visible scars? That they should be feared?
Some other examples of “Disabled Villains” in film are:
Joker in the Batman franchise
The witches in The Witches
Kevin Wendell Crumb in Split
Freddy Kruger in Nightmare on Elm Street
Erik in Phantom of the Opera
Scar in The Lion King
Captain Hook in Peter Pan
Dr. Poison in Wonder Woman
Voldemort in the Harry Potter series
Blofeld, Safin and Primo in No Time to Die
What can we do about it?
Disabled talent have so much to offer the entertainment industry and most certainly should not be limited to playing this outdated, harmful, and (quite frankly) boring trope. Disability studies scholar Tom Shakespeare says it best when he shares, “the use of disability as a character trait, plot device, or atmosphere is a lazy shortcut. These representations are not accurate or fair reflections of the experience of disabled people. Such stereotypes reinforce negative attitudes towards disabled people and ignorance about the nature of the disability.” It is past time for more nuanced, more complex, more true to life portrayals of disability in film by disabled actors.
Advice and Guidance:
Be conscious and critical of the trope when watching television and films.
Watch and promote television and films that have accurate representations of disabled characters, which are played by disabled actors, and created by disabled people.
Listen to disabled people in media and consume their stories.
Parents and educators: show accurate representations of disability in the media to your children. You can find some of TNP’s favorites when you refer to our previous blog posts. These posts highlight accurate and positive disability representation in television, books, podcasts, YouTube, and more!
Have conversations with the children in your life about disability as a natural and neutral part of human diversity using this resource from TNP.
Call for better representation of disability in media by
Signing petitions
Using your online presence to bring awareness to the issue
Support organizations that work towards better representation
Works Cited and Referenced
Buckley, Cara. “Scary Is How You Act, Not Look, Disability Advocates Tell Filmmakers (Published 2020).” The New York Times, 17 November 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/movies/witches-movie-disability.html. Accessed 5 October 2022.
Changing Faces | Visible Difference & Disfigurement Charity, https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/. Accessed 5 October 2022.
Disabilities: Insights from Across Fields and Around the World; Marshall, Kendall, Banks & Gover (Eds.), 2009.
Gibson, Jessica. “Why a disfigured or disabled screen villain is an idea that needs to die.” Scroll.in, 7 October 2021, https://scroll.in/reel/1007109/why-a-disfigured-or-disabled-screen-villain-is-an-idea-that-needs-to-die%22%20HYPERLINK%20%22https:/scroll.in/reel/1007109/why-a-disfigured-or-disabled-screen-villain-is-an-idea-that-needs-to-die. Accessed 5 October 2022.
Never miss a post! Subscribe to the Nora Notes blog and get the latest delivered straight to your inbox weekly.