Let's Talk | Villains & Disfigurement 

I just watched this with my mum who has a facial disfigurement (keloid skin) and she's disabled and she was so happy to see this being mentioned. She said "it's so nice to see someone so eloquent talking about this topic, no one seems to realise it's a problem". Also as a child my friends would always ask me about my mum and I'd explain it and then we'd move on, children really don't care. But I'd always see parents ushering their kids away from me and my mum and although my mum acted like she didn't care, as I got older I realised she was just pretending for me and my siblings. Anyway sorry to ramble on but this is such a great video.

I grew up watching a Dutch news programme for children between the ages of 4 and 15 or so, and there used to be this one reporter ( Who had the name 'Taco', believe it or not. ) who also missed his right lower arm. And it never occured to any of us to look at him differently, it was like "This person happens to have black hair, and this person happens to not have a lower right arm." and in one of the episodes they let him talk about being born without his lower arm in context of representation for people with deformities. I still think that was really great

when you talked about disability supposedly scaring children, and parents trying to shelter them, my mind immediately jumped to two things. one is how my mom would always insist that i zip up my jacket or put a sweater on, not when I was cold, but when she herself was cold. the other thing that immediately came to mind was one of my earliest and most vivid memories, from when i was about four or five years old. i was watching my very first disney movie, beauty and the beast, and it was possibly the first truly emotional experience i'd ever had, which is probably why it's so vivid to me. at the end of the movie i was crying my eyes out because i thought the beast had died. but when the beast changed into a man, i got even more upset. i was filled with so much indignant anger and grief that i didn't know what to do with myself. i didn't understand why the beast that i had grown so attached to throughout the movie was suddenly turned into this frightening stranger. he felt like an impostor. my dad tried to calm me down by explaining how this was a happy ending, that the beast hadn't died, and that there was nothing to cry about, and my four year old self couldn't find the words to articulate that he completely misunderstood what was making me so upset. for some reason dad seemed to think that it wasn't possible for Belle to marry the beast until he had changed into his human form, which i didn't understand at all. she had fallen in love with him as a beast, why couldn't she marry the beast? it wasn't just his form that had changed either, it was his manners, his mood, his voice, and even though Belle seemed to recognise him when she looked closer, it wasn't enough for me. i just wanted him back to normal. to me, the beast might just as well have died, the way they had replaced him. i was obviously very young back then, but i never could like the ending of beauty and the beast since. thinking back on it, i wonder how much this "burn" i experienced ended up affecting my views, haha. honestly, i haven't thought much about the topic of representation as a whole in a very concrete way before i found your (and through yours, Rowan's,) channel, but it's an issue that has nonetheless been close to my heart throughout my life for a few reasons. LGBT rights is something i feel very strongly for, for example. another is how much i love writing, and characterisation is absolutely my favourite part of writing. because of this i have a selection of pet peeves when it comes to character tropes and lazily written, 2D characters, (such as when "female" is seemingly equated with a personality trait, etc.). villains being represented as ugly, or deformed in some way, and the hero being represented as beautiful in fiction is certainly firmly rooted in this category for me. together with the stereotypical portrayal of good and evil as something clear-cut, or a simple choice someone makes (black and white with little to no grey areas,) it's definitely something i find very exasperating and limited about a lot of fiction. so, thanks for this video, it was very interesting hearing you talk more on this subject! looking forward to the next one. ^^

James Bond (/Ian Fleming) lives in a world where he believes that all women love 'semi-rape'. So, no. Just no to that. This video made my heart big. Thank you. 💜

Hi, Jen. Thanks for the video. As someone who lives with a physical disability and uses a power wheelchair for mobility, I could relate to a lot of this. I have heard insinuations from people that if I had more faith or would eliminate sin in my life, God would heal me. I have also had many people pray for me, sometimes with good intentions and sometimes just for their own edification, and I have made peace with that. So many times though I have been through that experience of the awkward moment with adults where someone is not sure whether to feel pity for me or put me on a pedestal as a saint. I think the political correctness in society makes it hard for people without disabilities to admit and confront their discomfort and actually be honest. Parents criticize their kids and admonish them not to stare for example, but as a person who has been stared at many times in my life, both out of curiosity and out of discomfort or meanness, I know the difference. If I notice this, I try to start a conversation with people and tell them that it's ok if my disability gets your attention. I am different, and there are times when I actually need you to notice it, but don't let it be the only thing you remember about me. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts, and I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences with us all.

"I haven't had the privilege of not noticing" ... I will be thinking about this phrase for a long time because I know exactly how it feels (for different reasons). Thank you so much for making this video. Really thought-provoking and important.

This is a topic that's very important to me. If you like the video, please share it. Thank you. xx

I was born with a venous malformation on one side of my face, visible on my cheek and lower lip. My cheek is a mottled purple and my lower lip used to be large and dark purple (I've since had surgeries for health reasons and my lip has shrunk, but the discoloration remains). And the sad thing is, growing up as a comic book fan, Two-Face was always my favorite BECAUSE of his facial deformity. Mine wasn't a burn, but he was the closest thing I had, and I latched onto him with empathy. A crazy Batman villain. So much so that when I met my favorite comic book artist Jae Lee, I asked him to draw me Two-Face instead of a cool Batman or Huntress. So you're perfectly right, this needs to end, so kids don't only see themselves as the villain in a story.

I remember as a child seeing an episode of an adventure gameshow called raven or something, and one boy who reached the finals had one hand - it was a great chance to ask parents about that, and it was a positive interaction with disability. We were routing for him! I wish there was more of that~

Woah that comment from Barbara tho🙄 like yeah it's not real, it's fiction, but fiction doesn't exist in a cultural vacuum. People will consume that stuff and it'll become very much real. Can't wait for the other videos, Jen!

Thank you for doing this segment! I can remember when How to Train Your Dragon came out and the end result for both the main characters and feeling so happy. I went to see it with my nephew who was born with a foot deformity. He kept on saying that he was just like Hiccup and it made me so happy that there was someone for him. He wants to become a dragon rider now haha~ I truly wish there were more characters ESPECIALLY for children that let them ask those "awkward" questions and make us adults talk about them.

And even in if a child was startled by seeing someone with a deformity it is a parents job in my opinion explain to them that this is nothing strange and teach them humanity and empathy and appreciation for diversity. Great video. Thank you for discussing this!

Fantastic video and once you mention it, it becomes so very obvious. Especially in a culture that is embracing more and more its Paralympic heroes, it seems shocking that these literary and cinematic tropes are continuing in the modern day. I remember the (adult) furore over Cerrie's arm - my daughter noticed it one day. "Why doesn't she have a hand?" I answered, "She was born that way. Sometimes that just happens." She looked at me, looked at Cerrie on the screen and said, "Okay" and went on watching. Simple as.

In 2009 I had a one year old and a three year old, and was also a moderator on a popular parenting web forum. I remember being really surprised and disappointed at the reaction of some parents to Cerrie's appointment. Sure, it was a talking point, there'd been no-one who looked like her in a presenting role before, but the backlash was inexcusable. The fact that you're making this video in 2017, and that I can't think of any other positive representations in TV media, shows how far we still have to go.

I cannot believe that parents are actually concerned instead of being relieved and happy that finally there are more people in the media representing people from all walks of life, with or without a disability! Seriously, I would think that at this day and age it would be a given, but unfortunately not. Still so many narrow-minded people among us. The same goes for other situations of course, not just disabilities. It really makes me angry. I do hope that my own children would never see somebody under a different light because of this or anything else considered "different" whatsoever... Thank you for sharing this, I love your videos in general! I discovered so many wonderful books because of your recommendations.

ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO!!! Thanks SO much. I have burn scars and when a child asked their parent what had happened to me, the reply: "The birds got her"!!! AWARENESS - you are bringing this. Love and light.

This is so interesting, this has opened up my mind on this topic. When watching Wonder Woman I was completely fixed the main character but I wish I had of thought more around Dr Poison.

Great video Jen. Really insightful, thought provoking, impassioned and think this will be a brilliant series. One particular highlight 'And that is a pile of bollocks!', well said tell it like it is. Love to you xxx

Thank you so much for making this video! I have noticed how people with deformity get portrayed in the media, but I must admit I have never thought about it too much. I've learned so much from this video and I will surely be more aware, starting right now. You've truly opened my mind more and I am truly grateful for that. Thank you.

Jen I love your videos so much so I hope I don't dampen your day, but I'd like to let you know that for whatever reason I've rarely learned about disfigurements from people who actually have them and you've expanded my world exponentially so thank you!

I came to this video from someone sharing your recent Instagram post on the new Witches movie, and I am so grateful I did. This is something I have never thought about, and I am truly grateful to learn about it and to be more mindful of these issues going forward. Thank you for sharing

This is very very wonderful and I will make some kind of video response when I am feeling a little better and more spoonful. You manage to be so eloquent in your anger and frustration - I know that struggle all too well. That interview is...horrific. Truly horrifying. I'm reminded so often of that societal fear you spoke about, stemming mostly from adults. It made me think of one time in Brittany - I was walking down a beach path with my parents and a kid was behind me, asking his mum questions about why my feet turned in when I walked and why it looked like I might be in pain. The mum was clearly very uncomfortable and trying to avoid his question, and eventually said "Perhaps she's blind" and then continued to try to change the subject. I crouched down to the little boy's level and explained to him that although some people can't see, I could, but that sometimes people were born different - and that, in my case, my legs didn't work quite like his. The mother was, I presume, fairly humiliated at essentially making up an answer to get her kid to shut up and didn't really acknowledge me. The kid smiled and ran away. The fear runs incredibly deep. And quite apart from the implications it has for representation of disability/deformity, it also represents a fundamental disrespect for the minds of children, I think. Kids whose hearts are so open and hungry for knowledge and understanding. To starve them of that because of personal fear, subconscious or not seems so selfish. Just recently, I've been asked by a third party organization to run a one-off creative writing workshop in a men's prison in Northern California. The prison are having me jump through hoops, despite having health clearance. Their verbiage is making me feel like they're worried about how my disability might affect the adult inmates?? All very strange. Anyway, this is long and messy. But basically, thank you, my lovely, for putting your words together so logically and well. I'm looking forward to the rest of it xxx

Thank you so much for taking the time to educate people, like me, on something they haven't given much thought to. It does give a whole new depth to how you view things and how to think more critically about the media we're presented with. Definitely something I want to be more aware and helpful in.

Oh my Gosh! Thank you so much for this video! I just found it. As someone born with a physical disability it has bothered me my entire life because of stories representing disabilities as bad or evil. I personally have been attacked and had people afraid of me when they learn I am disabled. I have also been called a liar as I do not "Look" disabled. This bothers me because everyone seems to believe that to be disabled you must be in a wheelchair or look different from others. Not all disabilities can be seen by people. I want to see stories with positive disabled characters. Hero's stories, side characters, something that is not seen as evil just because it is different from the "norm."

I have also found that this sort of trope also extends to many things that rest outside of accepted beauty standards. I know growing up often seeing evil people associated with having big noses. It made me self conscious as a little girl (and even today) because my nose is larger the most. So it is good that you make videos like this to bring peoples attention to it because honestly this is not something I have always thought about.

full transparency, I am able-bodied and privileged and have never had to think about this so I really really loved this video. I feel like you opened my mind up to some new reflections and I really appreciate it! I will definitely think and talk about this :D

I am currently writing and publishing a webnovel, and in one of the recent chapters, the brother of the two main heroes lost his leg in a fight. He is very much one of the good guys, and it didn't take long for a handful of readers to suggest that I might use an established plot device (I used it for totally different reasons, I just want to add) to cure him of the amputation (even though said "cure" would make him a werewolf and has a 50/50 chance of going horribly wrong.) I have no intention of "curing" him, and I was a little surprised that nobody has yet pointed out that that just isn't a very good narrative. I guess after seeing this video, I'm a lot less surprised.

Jen you approach your videos and your channel and public presence generally just so incredibly professionally. I'm in awe! Professionalism seems to be difficult on the internet! This was perfect and your points irrefutable. Your passion and indignation is totally infectious. Showing to family and friends.

I saw Kerry Burnell speaking last year about her book. Kerry showed a picture of an illustration of Alice from Alice in Wonderland next to herself as a child and asked what was the difference between the two children and the kids all said things like "Alice is wearing a dress!" The kids did not care. Kerry had to point out her deformity which was not present in the illustration of Alice. Then she talked about the importance of representation and it was really, really cool. Those kids learnt stuff, asked questions and it was great to see. It was cool to hear your opinions on this matter, as well. Lovely video as always, Jen!

Thank you so much, Jen, for always putting so much time and effort into helping people understand that being wrong about something is only getting worse, when we refuse to accept that we're being mistaken. That noticing things not being the way they should be is a call to change not stubborness. In Polish there's a saying: "My right is the most mine". This video reminded me of the point you made in one of your previous videos you made on a subject of deferomity. I'm thinking about, how you talked about people with deformity being played by able-bodied actors being harmful. When you first drop that point, I was a bit defenceful. "Does it matter, whether the actor playing the part really looks the way his character? It's a representation." And I remember, how only after hearing you thoughts on it, I could see why the problem was there. You opened many eyes, Jen. I hope you won't get discouraged by people being stubborn and closed to change and you'll continue to create videos like this one

Random thoughts: - Oh my gosh! It really is practically everywhere! - I wonder if it would be possible to do a little experiment where you show pictures of a villain next to a hero (or have side-by-side descriptions for literary villains/heroes) and see which character people think is the villain and which is the hero and why. The cynical part of me thinks that people will say the villain is the villain because they just "look" like a villain. Of course, I don't know how feasible an experiment like this would be, though.

Jen, thank you so much for not only making this absolutely fantastic video, but also helping me expand my critical thinking perspective. Due to my academic background I already think hard about a lot of things, but of course it is easy to be blinded by privilege and not see patterns such as these, when it does not concern onself or immediate environment. Visibility is certainly an issue here and like you say at the beginning - children are often shielded from the experience of authentically engaging with the topic of disability and "otherness", and then fed the connection of disability is bad/evil conneciton for the rest of their lives (I hope I am saying this right). As a rule, I have started training myself to not feel entitled to having answers to my "curiosity". I do not ask why someone appears "different" but just let them be as they are without having to justify why they look, live, or behave a certain way. All I need to do is treat people with respect and dignity, and help people like you - and your message - to be heard. Thank you for sharing your experience and giving me something to think about. Also "Voldemort - spoiler - he's not a nice man", totally cracked me up. Love

Jen! Yet again you have opened my eyes (just when I thought they couldn’t get any wider!) As an SEN teacher of many many years, this resonates with me so deeply I don’t even know where to begin. The thought that society might one day change their attitudes to disfigurement (every type of otherness, cruelty, animal welfare and inhumanity in general) and also pass it on to future generations absolutely warms my ❣ Thank you x

This is so well-articulated; I'm so grateful for this video. Even just as a chubby kid the Dursleys' "bad" bodies = "bad" people made me feel terrible and as I've grown up, experienced more and learned more it's overwhelming how much body-shaming and ableism there is in all media. It's so ingrained it's hard to notice at first, then it's upsetting how it's literally everywhere. I don't have a deformity but I've been chubby to fat and chronically ill (and really tall which as a kid is also a "different" thing lol) for most of my life, and it's only as an adult with the internet etc. that I've been able to see others like me. There's not a lot of diversity where I live and I was mostly alone in my "other"ness growing up. I felt like I wasn't a full person or allowed to exist as I was because I didn't see anyone like me. I was/am mentally ill and queer too but the physical things felt more alienating as they were harder to hide and look "normal". As in the stories you mention, I felt I had to change in order to participate and be equal to others. I felt I was a "bad person" for being different. It sounds so ridiculous but these ideas really do get into our heads and affect us. So thank you so so much for sharing your perspective and knowledge, showing how vital it is to understand these tropes and the effect they have. Understand how your comfort could be someone else's discomfort and find a little empathy, Barbara! Even just existing as an "other" is a revolutionary act and the internet has helped me so much in seeing and understanding people (I also may be autistic so I've got a lot of barriers lol) as well as seeing people like me :) Intersectional feminism is the only feminism! Thank you again. This is such an important video and I love your channel

thank you so much for making this video, jen. as someone who is able-bodied (is this the right term? i'm sorry if it's not), i had never thought about it or even realised the constant relation made between disability and villainy. however, every since you've mentioned it for the first time in one of your videos, i can't stop noticing it in the media i consume. it's seriously concerning how no one seems to think it's wrong (which, you know, shouldn't surprise me, considering i hadn't thought about it before you opened my eyes, but it's still shocking how blinded we can be by things society considers "not a big deal") and i'm so so glad you've opened the conversation. i'm looking forward to watching the other videos. hope you have a great week xx

I was looking forward to this video!! Great insight on it Jen and great work as always :) Love your videos !!

Love this, and I look forward to learning more in future videos! Seriously, thank you for this.

Will definitely bring this up in conversation. So glad you spoke about this- most of us never would have realized otherwise. Keep making people uncomfortable! We can't grow without some discomfort. :)

Another fantastic video, points very well presented! I agree with your opinions on the representation of deformity. I wish mainstream media, television, literature and film would make more effort to change this! My beloved little niece is disabled, has deformity and various development issues. she's a beautiful wonderful human who I hope to see grow up to be intellectual, confident in herself and strong. And I think it's important for her to see good positive characters (including positive representations of deformity) that she can relate to.

When I was in school, there was a lovely substitute teacher who was missing part of one of his arms. Everyone loved him; none of the kids cared.

I remember mothers i knew getting all torn up about Kerri being on Cbeebies and i was of the opinion and still am that someone with a deformity being on a childrens show can only be a good thing. If youre child is confused or curious then talk to your child and make them understand that people come in all different shapes and sizes. My daughter didnt even blink an eye to it lol she just excepted her as she was. If anything people should try and look at the world like our children. There is something beautiful about the way a child sees things with such innocence and unwavering acceptance. Anyways I love your videos, im really glad i found you on RU-vid. Youre a fountain of wisdom and ideas lol.

Phenomenal video,Jen! From personal experience,I can tell you that in my Romanian Lit class we studied a very Romanian fairytale in which the villain was basically bald and we quite literally had our teacher make us learn and repeat that "ANY PHYSICAL LACKING IS A REPRESENTATION OF A MORAL ONE" which basically perpetuates the idea that people with any sort of physical deformity or disability must have some deep character flaw,which js beyond problematic and though I understand the whole class had a ridiculous accent on the symbolism of everything (the classical example being curtains,i know,random) so I can understand how the teacher and critics would of course try to find that symbolism in literature,what we teach our kids in school in terms of theory will have some sort of impact on their life outside the classroom,so,as you said,a kid that didn't care before nor did they think people who were different were basically the devil,will be impacted negatively by our misinterpretations of them and especially if they have no real people like this to know in real life and see as regular people,these ideas will become internalized biases and it's all such a problematic mess.Then again,when I pointed this out as well as the fact that all we studied in that class were old white men,I was blantly told (the most painful thing of all was that I was told this kindly as if to understand that my teacher was worried I questioned this) that we're studying literature and not making an analysis of society.Yikes.

It's so hard to explain a bias that people don't know they have. This is an issue that's close to my heart as well and I'm very impressed that you managed to make this video without tearing your hair out.

This is the first video I've ever seen from your channel, and I can't wait to watch more!! This was a really good video and really opened my mind, I'd never drawn this connection before, so thanks!!!

This is SUCH an important subject and I'm so glad you chose to speak about it. I think, as you say, it's something people just don't realise. But they should! Can't wait to see the other videos you make about this subject. The more people are aware, the better! xx

Jen, I loooooved this video. So glad that you're able to help viewers understand something that is so near and dear to your heart and that you're encouraging people to lean in and think beyond what they've always thought or known. I found this video to be super insightful and powerful.

I am seriously so happy to have subscribed to you, I feel like I've grown through watching your RU-vid videos and become more educated on issues concerning how disability and deformity are treated in society. I am lucky to have met two amazing friends who are disabled so I never was quite as ignorant as I could've been but there are so many aspects, like representation in films, that I never thought about. So thank you ♥

Hello, I am currently studying my Masters Degree. My thesis is based on the representation of disability in literature. I have lupus and other conditions. Your videos have helped me personally and with my work. I appreciate your videos. thank you!

I really want to thank you for speaking up about this, Jen. You have opened my eyes and I think those of many others. I can't imagine the frustration you feel when the same trope pops up again and again. Ever since you first mentioned this in one of your videos, I have started noticing it everywhere, and it has made me much more aware of things like this happening. Even something we all love - like Harry Potter - has some flaws and it's good to be aware of that. Adding to your list of positive Harry Potter characters to off-set the trope: I always liked that Fleur declared that her love for Bill went deeper than his looks when he was attacked by Fenrir (I think) and suffered serious injuries to his face. Although I can't remember if he ever recovered from them or if those scars healed.

I've never given this much thought before but this is fascinating! It's crazy how much this has been normalised, it isn't right at all! I think when choosing acting projects and when doing my writing I'm going to be much more aware of this issue cos this stereotyping needs to stop. So thank you for the education Jen, I look forward to the rest of the videos! x

Great video Jen! I think it's very important what you said that we can like something for one reason and still notice that it's not what it should be for another. Because with that knowledge we can create better things in the future. People are defending things they like so wholy now because they have wrong idea of loyality. Also...I just remembered I had a teacher in my high school with the body deformity (he was missing his right thumb) and he was so cool and funny that he had a fan club in my school. He was very comfortable with his hand and always made "thumb up" with it, so we were comfortable with it too. And well, yes, he was so so scary - because he was a MATH teacher :) So actually we were only scared of the test results :)

"... and that is a pile of bollocks." I just choked on my morning tea! Fantastic video, thank you for doing it. I have worked as a writer for tabletop RPGs and it was part of writing guidelines that your Big Bad Evil Guy (BBEG - I kid you not, that is an industry term) would be more memorable if they had disfigurement of some description, that it is a great shorthand when they are glimpsed. It infuriated me because it was encouraging lazy writing

As an aspiring author, film maker and regular human being I am never forgetting anything you said in this video. Ever. Xxx

This is a lovely video, Jen! It is so passionate and insightful. While I am aware of this problem in media in certain cases (most notably Beauty and the Beast and other fairytales or myths, Jekyll and Hyde, and The Wizard of Oz), there are still many examples that I simply accept and look past. And that's not really ok. I think that some of the most interesting and captivating villains are those who don't exhibit any sort of deformity or external signs or their villainy (shows like Jessica Jones - Killgrave, Dollhouse, Luke Cage, House of Cards...). Superheroes/villains and the Marvel Universe in general are actually really interesting to think about with regards to the physicality of "good" and "evil." There are many heroes and villains alike who exhibit physical differences (though I'd argue that there are more villains still who do so). The Hulk and Daredevil are two characters who come to mind that are fascinating to think about. I think there are also certain TV shows that actively play with our conceptions of the external appearances of heroes and villains. Grimm, Lost Girl, Once Upon a Time, Marvel's Agents of Shield, all stretch the concept of the physicality of good and evil in their own ways (some more effectively than others). This notion of villains and deformity is something that I hope to pay more attention to in the media that I consume. I also found the idea of parents wanting to shield their kids from deformity (in the case of Cerrie Burnel) interesting. Growing up, my nursery school was in the same building as a rehabilitation center where my mother worked as an occupational therapist. I was exposed to people who used motorized wheel chairs and had neurological impairments from strokes. My mom even brought me into work one day to play with a girl my age who was born without the lower half of her arm, just like Cerrie. Sometimes I wonder if these experiences have changed the way I view others. Children are generally very accepting as you mention, but it's also more socially acceptable for children to stare and ask questions. By the time we are adults I think that we have been ingrained with the convention that staring is rude, and that you don't simply walk up to someone and ask about how they became wheelchair-bound, etc. Anyway, I apologize for this insanely long comment. Your video clearly resonated with me and prompted me to think about this subject in great detail :)

Great video! I'm always baffled by the number of people who don't notice how common this tying together of villainy and visible physical difference, when it's so ever-present across story-telling history and across media, so I love that you're drawing more attention to it. I collect action figures and dolls of amputee characters, and they're overwhelmingly villains or grey morality-types (they're also overwhelmingly male, but that's another issue). Just looking through the comments on this video, the fact that the How to Train Your Dragon movies get mentioned repeatedly shows that it's one of the few exceptions around (and while I love those, the villain in the sequel ended up conforming to unfortunate tropes anyway).

Thank you so much for making this video, Jen! I look forward to the next ones in this series.

One exception to the rule of heroes never getting injured in battle is found in How to Train Your Dragon, I remember how people reacted to just how unusual it was for the hero to gain such a big injury in battle, but also how they approved of the fact that it was more realistic. Keep up the interesting discussions :).

You and this series are an inspiration to humanKIND. I also love that I can watch this with my eight year old daughter. We haven't told her the denotation of "bollocks" and ?lucky? For us her best friend has introduced her to all other curse words. Besides all that, she and I love curling up and watching your videos before we all turn in for the night, thank you! It is giving much depth to fairy tales as she knows them, and she loves it.

Great video Jen. Your insight and passion really comes across. I wonder if feelings of guilt are a driving force behind people's reactions to what they don't understand - a recognition that the learned behaviour you talk about is 'wrong' but a fear of changing that? But you're so right to say that, whatever the reasoning, this is something we all need to challenge because to not do so means we're saying that we'd rather remain ignorant of anything that isn't our own lived experience. I can't say I haven't been blinkered to some of the issues you mention growing up but, thanks to your work, my awareness is increasing and with it my understanding so thank you very much and looking forward to the rest of your videos x

Thank you so much for making these videos--the fairytale histories, the discussions on representation and deformity, all of it. I really appreciate it, both as someone interested in the history of literature and in being a good human.

Although I knew this topic was an issue I hadn't realised it was so prevalent in the media I consumed as a child. Until you pointed out the characters within Harry Potter I hadn't considered the possibility that they could have problematic parts. This is definitely something I'll have to pay more attention to in future and I thank you for discussing the subject.

Me and my husband were talking about this the other day while watching the new Jungle Book. It's shocking how much it still creeps into films and books. Great video, I look forward to watching the others :)

This is very interesting and I'm really grateful that you posted this video! I'm always happy to hear experiences from people who actually have to deal with this topics and not just from people who never experienced it and try to talk about it anyway. I was extremely lucky to grow up with an upbringing that made me aware of other people's experience, was also in an inclusive kindergarden which helped a lot. I did start to notice that some of the villains in the childhood movies are watched are often portrait with a deformity or as I called it as a child "something that made them extra special" (I still love that term :D) and I remember talking to my Mom because I was very crossed about that fact, because, with being in an inclusive kindergarden that's just not what my reality looked like, so my Mom tried to include books/films where it twisted or questioned the usual "villain with deformity" pattern. And I'm still very grateful for that. I also worked with Kids from 12-13 for about 3 weeks and realized during that time if parents complain about their Kids being "scared" or "disturbed" by it, in 99% it turned out that the Kids were completely fine.

Hi Jen , you are so right on I hope many people listen to your video it is excellent and so true, loved it!

Hi! Thank you for making this video! :) Just a note to the general public from your friendly neighborhood Autistic girl to say that many people in the autism community and the broader disability community prefer identity-first language ("Disabled", "Autistic", etc.) to person-first language. In a nutshell, the reason for this is that we feel that the "referring to someone by their disability first is dehumanizing" argument implies that disability is dehumanizing, which of course it isn't, because disability doesn't make someone less human. So for example, since autism isn't a bad thing, calling someone an "Autistic person" cannot be insulting or degrading. For many of us, using identity-first language is an empowering way of showing pride in our Disabled identity :) Thank you!

Fascinating video, Jen. I love that you are not only well-read enough to offer a multitude of examples which illustrate your point, but also that you review each example critically within the context of its own story. I had certainly noted this trend of physical and moral deformity going hand in hand (especially because I love to read older, classic novels and fairy tales). But I hadn't thought critically about it. This video opened my eyes and now I will be able to examine the trend when it comes up in the stories I consume. I think the most famous example in classic literature would be Dorian Grey - beautiful on the outside, but morally bankrupt within, such that his portrait (soul) grows so horribly twisted and deformed as he degrades himself. I would be curious to hear your examples of books which present disabled characters as people instead of stereotypes. For example, I am reading Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series and there is a character with a deformity (clubbed foot) named Elide. She is initially portrayed as meek, but through the course of her arc she finds strength and becomes somewhat empowered. I'd love to hear what you think.

Love you Jen! I have congenital muscular dystrophy so can very much relate. I laughed & nodded in agreement & applauded your every word throughout this well constructed video. Best RU-vidr IMO! Keep up the great work, it's much appreciated x

Thank you so much for making this video! It's absolutely something most people need to think about more, and I really appreciate you taking the time and mental energy to put this together and share your personal experiences. I'm looking forward to your forthcoming videos on the topic.

Thanks for making this Jen, I'll be sharing as far and wide as I can.

Lovely video!! You always talk about things so eloquently! If you have not read it, Family Secrets: Shame and Privacy in Modern Britain by Deborah Cohen is a fascinating read. It really focuses on this idea of families feeling uncomfortable and "protecting" their children and their image.

Loved this video! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights about the representation of villains in movies and literature. It makes me cross that people creating these texts don’t see themselves repeating these ideas over and over. If they’re purely fictional and don’t affect our perceptions, how is it that they continue to use disfigurement and deformities this way... x

This is a problem I haven't taken the time to really think about, unfortunately. But I'm glad now to have a better understanding and insight. I will definitely be more aware. Thanks for the video

I always feel like you're putting words to undefined thoughts and feelings I have but have never known why I feel or how to articulate them, these kind of discussion videos are great!

Thank you for taking the time to make this. Thank you for always speaking out on these important issues.

I have so much gratitude for you and your voice Jen ♡ Agreed re The Christmasaurus - felt so jarring to have such positive representation alongside really poor rep. I'd planned on buying for my cousin's little girl for Christmas but wanted to read first and was so glad I did. She has facial scarring and I can imagine how she would have felt reading about the villain. It wasn't even a throwaway detail, it was described in its bumpyness etc with such an air of repulsion it made me angry. So so frustrating. And the quote from Bond producers is just beyond ridiculous. I wish people didn't jump to defence so quick, if could just say - I'm going to sit with that and reflect, but instead it's challenging and uncomfortable so they dismiss it, finding a way for it to not be problematic for them. But yes, thank you for your eloquence, effort and stamina in all of this xx

Jen, I had never thought twice about this topic but your video really opened my eyes to it. Thank you for making this video and making me realise what a problem it is. Just thank you ☺

Enlightening and thought-provoking.

As always your videos are informative and interesting and I have loved hearing your views on these subjects. It has made me consider how different aspects of a person can be negatively affected by the representation of it in the media or the opinions of those around you, not just towards a person with a disability or a deformity, but a lot of other things as well. I won't start debating all of that in your comment section as it would be long and rambly on my part and would veer away from your original post completely, but thank you for the video none the less. It has made me think about a lot of different things.

This is everything I've always wanted to say but didn't know how... brilliant Jen and so educational in many aspects, I wish something like this was done when I was little...

Great video, Jen. I often wonder if a seemingly default, acceptable level of social reservedness is also to blame. Not wanting to offend someone by calling attention to difference, but trying - and often, sadly, failing - to avoid it in an effort to make everyone involved feel better. Whereas children just ask the questions and face it head on. We need to encourage adults' inner children! I spent most of my childhood wishing that I was 'just like everyone else' and - had there been positive representation in media, in contrast to those awful tropes you mentioned - I might have come to accept myself in my entirity much sooner. Many children's reactions to my disability and questions from more ballsy teens continue to make me smile; whilst I have become rather blase about negative experieces involving adults - only feeling strongly when they're reinforcing those attitudes for children present. Progress is being made but, clearly, there is still a lot of work to be done. And it's too much to expect that some of today's more accepting children can re-educate the adult populace regarding tolerance, equality and social justice. I'm looking forward to your exploration of similar themes in this video series...

This is one thing I'm loving about Doctor Who for a moment now. The Doctor is blind (I'm an episode behind), and it's amazing to see how he's working around that disability. I'm sure they'll "solve" it in the next few episodes, but still. (Also, Hawkeye is my fave disabled hero. In the comics he's deaf and is still the best shooter in the universe (sometimes he uses hearing aids, sometimes not).)

Hi Jen. Thanks for opening my eyes to this. I have a 6 year old daughter and although I thought I was doing a good job at explaining diversity to her, I realise now that I have a long way to go. Honestly, I've never noticed the villain / deformity connection in films and books before (although now I can't believe I haven't. It's so glaringly obvious) x

if only I could like this video a million times. bravo!

This is a really interesting topic and thank you for bringing it up. It is a cheap copout of a device and is so widely used that as you said most people don't even realise that disabled people are being portrayed this way. Thank you for giving me food for thought.

I wish I could like this more than once! Thank you for sharing. Such a great video. ❤

So very well done. I'm very much looking forward to this series.

Great video, Jen, thank you ! Another thing I didn't pay enough attention to ! As you were talking an idea came to my mind... in certain situations the deformity might be part of the factors that made the villain one - other people don't accept him, they mock him, he distances himself and becomes bitter and so on.. I believe that in such a case it might be an acceptable device ? Anyways, I'm looking forward to the other videos in the series !

Very enlightening. I may not have a physical deformity but I do suffer from several mental illnesses and I'm pretty certain I don't have to explain to you what sort of misjudgment "we" suffer from.

fantastic message in this video! Thank you! I have alopecia totalis. ..bald! I find the people who have the deepest insecurities with themselves are the ones who will fixate the most on my lack of hair!

Excellent video. I'm really looking forward to more.

Thank you for sharing about your experience! I've honestly never really thought about this dynamic before, but it makes a lot of sense!

Thank you for making this important video! It really makes you realise how this kind of representation is everywhere! I do think that it's difficult to say the only reason adults are uncomfortable with deformity is because they as children didn't see them represented positively. While the representation described in the video is very destructive and in main, the reason why people may have those attitudes, to fully understand them one must fully consider the idea of deformity as god's punishment and why this idea was created in the first place. No two people look alike, however we share certain characteristics that allow us to identify each other as similar (the same species). On a psychological level, if a person does not conform to these characteristics, a sort of barrier is formed between them and their observer which inhibits identification, and they are seen as something other in some way. This otherness is where the trope perhaps stems from. That's why I think it is our responsibility to combat not just past bad representation but also people's discomfort with otherness in general. Also on a slightly irrelevant note..... HAPPY WORLD POETRY DAY EVERYONE!!! Here's an insufferable poem in celebration... may be pretentious but just spreading the poem love. There's still a few minuets left to write one so GO GO GO!! Far below the dripping star You gaze and soak in what you are: The world is just a picture fed By all those nerves inside your head, But even scientists agree You come from all that you can see; The stars and sky and seas below That make all you will ever know, And all the stars will ever be Are pictures deep inside of me. But at the sky I gaze and see It’s all for me, and all beauty.

Thank you so much for this video! I have a physical disability and back in 2009 I graduated with a degree in English & Film studies. I was so disappointed that disability & deformity wasn't discussed as a topic, especially considering representation of gender, race and sexuality are widely discussed and analysed. I think as a subject it should be discussed more often especially as I can imagine there'll be more obvious examples of negative tropes going further back in history. X

Loved this video and I'm looking forward to the others you mentioned! This is something I have noticed but have definitely not questioned enough. Thank you for such eloquent insight!

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this!! I'll admit, I've never thought much further on this topic other than "hmm so many villains in media are portrayed as having a deformity, that's a bit shit!" so it was great to hear where some of that cultural/storytelling history comes from and their real world repercussions. I'm not sure if you're familiar, but I would love to hear what you think about Prince Zuko's character in Avatar: The Last Airbender. He has a large burn scar on one side of his face and is introduced as a villain at the start of the series, but over time becomes a deeply sympathetic character who allies himself with the hero and joins the "good guys." There's also a point at which he's offered the possibility of having his scar "healed" but he turns it down. Is this character turning the villain-with-disfigurement stereotype on its head, or is it just putting a slightly redemptive spin on things and could still be considered problematic?

Love this so so much. I also have a hand deformity, and despise this trope. I did recently read Megan Whalen Turner's Thief series and (spoiler alert, I suppose), the main character loses a hand but is still our lovable protagonist we are constantly cheering on. Like, I shouldn't be this excited about positive representation, that should be the norm, but obviously it is not, so yay, MWT! Thanks for this video, definitely going to watch more of your content :D

Thank you for making this video, Jen. xx

Yes yes yes YES! Thank you so much for making this video and talking about such an important topic!

I would love to see you do a video on the relationship in books/media between the depictions of physical and mental illness. I do not have any readily apparent disabilities but I am mentally ill and have a chronic pain disorder, and these topics seem to intersect a lot. Love your work!

Great video, as always. Thank you.