Forrest gump, premiering in 1994, directed by robert zemeckis and starring tom hanks, is a blockbuster movie which illustrates the perseverance of an individual who achieves astounding feats despite societys label of him being mentally challenged, and ironically he embarks upon significant american historical events. Oct 24, 2018 this feature is not available right now. Any attempt to describe him will risk making the movie seem more conventional than it is, but let me try. Its the tale of a goodnatured but simpleminded man from greenbow, alabama, telling his life story to other people while waiting at a bus stop. Bubba was drafted into the united states army, and was sitting on the bus heading to basic training when. Forrest gump disability in forrest gump is represented in many characters. Oct 06, 2011 stupid is as stupid does, says forrest gump played by tom hanks in an oscarwinning performance as he discusses his relative level of intelligence with a stranger while waiting for a bus. Some people have celebrated the films sensitive portrayal of the struggles of disability.
Forrest has a mental disability in the movie which is used to pity. Forrest gump essays are academic essays for citation. Five most positive portrayals of disability in the media. The movie was about the life and times of forrest gump a fictitious character who suffers from a disability known as mental retardation. Forrest alexander gump is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 1986 novel by winston groom, robert zemeckis s 1994 film of the same name, and gump and co. Forrest gump was based on the 1986 novel of the same name by winston groom. The presidencies of kennedy and johnson, the events of vietnam, watergate and other historical events unfold through the perspective of an alabama man with an iq of 75, whose only desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart. The films unfolding events are revealed through gumps first person narration.
In lieutenant dans case, this trigger can be argued to be one of two things. I have read the book forrest gump and also watched the forrest gump movie version. It is interesting to see how life can surprise us as god turns our weakness into strength leaving all in awe. Other causes include genetic conditions, problems during. In the movie, forrest gump was identified as having an iq of 75 which is consistent with mental retardation. His mama teaches him the ways of life and leaves him to choose his destiny. Representations of disability in forrest gump youtube. Forrest apparently had a crooked back during his childhood in which he wore braces on his legs. The movie forrest gump, a comedydrama and romance movie directed by robert zemeckis, and screen play eric roth in 1994. Oct 15, 2016 however, forrest gump can be watched as a movie about a time in history when we were painfully misinformed, about mental disabilities, sexual and emotional abuse, and the dangers of sex. Why is the ending of forrest gump different from the novel. Its a slick and inviting celebration of the human spirit through the lens of a. Over half of the story consists of forrest telling some friendly strangers his life story, while he sits on a park bench in front of the white house.
Forrest gump, premiering in 1994, directed by robert zemeckis and starring tom hanks, is a blockbuster movie which illustrates the perseverance of an individual who achieves astounding feats despite societys label of him being mentally challenged, and ironically he embarks upon significant american historical events while pursuing his love. Forrest is mentally disabled, with an iq of 75, and he finds disabled friends in both bubba and lieutenant dan after he loses his leg. Forrest gump disability in forrest gump gradesaver. He is running through childhood with his best and only friend jenny. Diagnosis or not, the message of the movie was you. Although the film did have some slow moments, i could not bring myself to stop watching. Forrest is mentally disabled, with an iq of 75, and he finds disabled friends in both bubba and lieutenant dan after he loses his legs. As stated above, the initial trigger is a traumatic experience that he could not overcome. At the request of my high school students, i recently watched forrest gump with my disability history class. Forrest s life is a box of chocolates because he experiences so many things within his life, that are so different from each other, similar to the chocolates one finds within a chocolate box. Its not so much that the film is overly complicated or that reality is always in question or any art house tricks of that kind. He had a lower than average iq which i dont think qualifies as a real disablity but can be a stumbling block on.
Forrest gump the look on the main characters face shows that he is confused or not understanding. Jun 21, 2018 its hard to believe that forrest gump was released in 1994 and that it can have the same emotional impact even if you watch it ten times. Ive never met anyone like forrest gump in a movie before, and for that matter ive never seen a movie quite like forrest gump. But its also one of many signs scattered through the movie that the character might be autistic. Forrest gump, the movie, does not follow the regular movie format, but flows at its own pace.
Oct 24, 2016 forrest gump is a special character in a special movie that rekindles for viewers what they love about the big screen by showing our capacity as human beings to love, cry, laugh, and share good times and bad with those friends and family as forrest does. He was forrest s best friend during the vietnam war. There are three different levels to intellectual disabilities. In the movie forrest gump, we see this disorder portrayed by an individual who survived the vietnam war. Forrest clearly has an intellectual disability, but also has a physical impairmenthis leg bracesas a child. Forrest gump is a 1994 film starring tom hanks and directed by robert zemeckis. Media portrayal of individuals with dd 1 the portrayal of. I was so intrigued in not only carlas determination, but also the other traits that were less predominant, such as her sensitivity and her own awareness of her disability. Forrest gump 1994 full movie full episode hd stream. While many consider forrest gump to be a classic american film, inspiring and heartwarming, the film has faced both criticism and acclaim for its portrayal of disability. Forrests disability is noticed early on in his childhood by his peers and his teachers, but forrests mother encourages him by telling him. How forest gump overcomes disabilities and becomes a. The movie focuses on gumps experiences with government, racism, poverty, mass media, and politics among other things.
When i share that im a disabled writer i often hear the same handful of questions, one of which is whats the first movie you saw with a disabled. Mental retardation is a very outdated term, although it was considered politically correct in the 60s80s and. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by winston groom, and stars tom hanks, robin wright, gary sinise, mykelti williamson, and sally field. We can agree that the character is mentally slow, but he does have some autistic tendencies in his behavior. With tom hanks, robin wright, gary sinise, sally field. Mar 02, 2015 in the movie forrest gump, the titular character gets labeled as stupid because he was born with a mental disability.
Dec 23, 2017 in the movie forrest gump, the character lieutenant dan exhibits clear symptoms of ptsd. Although the movie came out six years before they were born, they were looking forward to itbut i was wary. The story depicts several decades in the life of forrest gump hanks, a slowwitted but kindhearted man from alabama. Forrest gump and disabled representation 25 years later. The story of a mentally disabled young man played by tom hanks who plowed his way into several disparate historical events has become a bit of a punchline, especially when it comes to its use of mental disability see my tropic thunder anniversary article. Intellectual disability in forrest gump by chloe williams. If there was a climax to forrest gump it was probably the wedding of forrest and jenny, 23. The movie forrest gump 1994 directed by robert zemeckis is an existentialism movie because the movie shows the existentialism theme of freedom and choice as the main character forrest gump played by tom hanks was born without a purpose in life and he makes his own decisions throughout the movie for himself while facing many conflicts and, he. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of forrest gump by edward abbey. He was forrest s best friend during the vietnam war he was portrayed by mykelti williamson in the movie. Forrest gump is a special character in a special movie that rekindles for viewers what they love about the big screen by showing our capacity as human beings to love, cry, laugh, and share good times and bad with those friends and family as forrest does. Disability, culture, media forrest gump to what extent does forrest gump. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by winston groom and stars tom hanks, robin wright, gary sinise, mykelti williamson and sally field.
Forrest gump is a 1994 american comedydrama film directed by robert zemeckis and written by eric roth. Forrest has a mental disability in the movie which is used to pity disabled people through out the film because at the beginning of the film gumps mother has to give her body to men against her will, she does this because gump wouldnt get into a normal school because of his disability. Asd autism spectrum disorder high functioning iq greater than 70, formally known as aspergers syndrome low functioning iq of 70 or below actually, as someone diagnosed with high functioning autism spectrum disorder formally known as as. The character forrest gump was never good at running nor walking as it was caused by his crooked spine. Forrest gump reflects on the events of his life to strangers on a bus bench before he reunites with his childhood friend, jenny. Posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd is an anxiety disorder that is portrayed in many different lights. Years later, footage of lbj putting the medal around daviss neck appeared in the movie forrest gump with tom hankss head substituted for daviss, and gump.
Forrest gump is a film that defies the conventions of filmmaking, and in that sense it is difficult to do a typical analysis of the film. In the film, forrest is a philanthropist and a war veteran, businessman, and college football player who bears witness to various. He had a lower than average iq which i dont think qualifies as a real disablity but can be a stumbling block on the road to success. Yet my students looked deeper into the film and found various positives. In hindsight, its easy to say, sure, forrest gump was an enormous hit that hit an emotional touchstone with audiences and critics alike in 1994. I could delve into how forrest s love for jenny echoes the relationship of hosea and gomer in the old testament. He was portrayed by mykelti williamson in the movie. This has never been truer when talking about forrest gump. Forrest gump, which ran onto the big screen on july 6, 1994, was based on the book written by mobile native winston groom. Forrest gump is an intriguing, graceful, comical film.
For example, jennys father is clearly a child abuser, yet forrest describes him as, a very loving man. Forrest gump, the movie, is forrest gump, the character, telling his own story. The movie revolves around a person who had physical disability and is not as sharp as most of the people his age. Forrest gump in the movie a box of chocolates is a simple thing. A feather that travels through town until it reaches the foot of forrest gump who is waiting at a bus stop. Intellectual disability in forrest gump by chloe williams on. Forrest gump movie 45 words term paper example ivypanda. Forrest gump probably fell somewhere in the mild to moderate range based on the movie. Forrest gump, a southerner who suffers from intellectual disability, reflects on the events of his life to strangers on a bus bench before he reunites with his childhood friend, jenny.
Social theories and concepts in forrest gump essay movie. Intellectual disability in forrest gump by tamika farmer on prezi. Intellectual disability in forrest gump works cited causes of intellectual disability the three most common causes of intellectual disability are down syndrome, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and fragile x syndrome. To most people, the scene between the army drill instructor and recruit forrest gump in the eponymous movie is just another in a series of amusing incidents in. Anybody who watches forrest gump can relate to forrest and what he goes through. Disabilities associated with the movie forrest gump answers. Forest gump the movie forrest gump is very close to a complete visual depiction of most of the topics covered in the lecture. Aside from depicting everyday drama that so many people can relate to, the movie itself is a major life lesson we can always succeed if we believe in ourselves, but we also need someone to encourage and not give up on us when were in doubt. However, forrest gump can be watched as a movie about a time in history when we were painfully misinformed, about mental disabilities, sexual and emotional abuse, and the dangers of sex. They noticed that forrest gump shows a variety of disabilities. To most people, the scene between the army drill instructor and recruit forrest gump in the eponymous movie is just another in a series of amusing incidents in which gump finds himself. Forrest alexander gump is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 1986 novel by winston groom, robert zemeckiss 1994 film of the same name, and gump and co. When he goes to register for grade school, his mom has to use her feminine influence just so he could get a proper education.
In the film, forrest is a philanthropist and a war veteran, businessman, and. Mental retardation is a very outdated term, although it was considered politically correct in the 60s80s and even into the 90s. Driven by the notion of life is a box of chocolates and one never knows which filing they will pick, a delicate, graceful and innocent forrest gump comes into. Benjamin buford blue march 2nd 1943 june 7th, 1967, also known by the nickname bubba, is a character in both the forrest gump novel and feature film.
We are led through the whole story by forrest s own words in voiceover. Moreover, the only way gump is able to make a solid and sincere friend in jenny is by being able to communicate with her directly. Overcomes disabilities to become a leader the essay should be written in the present tense. The first is that he was shot, injured, and then, handicapped as a result of his fight. From a character whos just like everyone else to one who models the acceptance arc of coping with a disability, here are my picks for the five most positive portrayals of disability in the media. Stupid is as stupid does, says forrest gump played by tom hanks in an oscarwinning performance as he discusses his relative level of intelligence with a stranger while waiting for a bus.
Forrest gump is an americana story in its truest form. When forrest gump was over budget, tom hanks gave up his. Disability portrayed in forrest gump introduction to. Forrest was also a very simpleminded man, he never digs deep into what something was or what someone said. Term paper on psychology forrest gump the purpose of this assignment part of forrest s charm is his innocence or naivete, which is part of his charm throughout the movie, but also leads him to make improper judgments about people around him. The movie critics went so far as to compare the film to an amateur forrest gump. Forrest gump may be an overly sentimental film with a somewhat problematic message, but its sweetness and charm are usually enough to approximate true depth and grace. Forrest gump born june 6, 1944 is the protagonist of forrest gump novel and film. Feb 19, 2015 disability portrayed in forrest gump posted on february 19, 2015 february 19, 2015 by trevor nguyen forrest gump is a movie about a character played by tom hanks that was born with a crooked spine and is intellectually disabled. Director robert zemeckis used computergenerated effects to insert forrest into historical scenes, including meetings with presidents and celebrities, and used a greatest hits sound track to evoke a sense of time and place. Its a slick and inviting celebration of the human spirit through the lens of. In the movie, forest gump, the character played by tom hanks fines remarkable inner strength to overcome lifes never ending problems and tragedies. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by winston groom.