Representation of Ability/Disability in Films (Wonder)

Representation of Ability/Disability in Films

In the film Wonder the film spends a long time showing the difference between able bodied people vs disabled bodied people. The main character Augie has mandibulofacial dysostosis which makes his appearance seem different to most people.

In this scene where Auggie is given a school tour around the school and the stop in the science block, Julian asks Auggie "What's the deal with your face". Jack and Charlotte immediately tell Julian to stop what he's saying and that it's rude. The dialogue (sound) here This shows how disability is seen as quite a taboo subject within the school implying that disability is an awkward and bad topic for the students to talk about. This representation of what disabled students and disability of a whole shows how disabled people are something that we don't understand and we can find a bit weird but also very intriguing.

Another representation is how disabled people can also be a bit more mentally able than

regular kids. Despite Auggie being quiet, one of the only lines he speaks in this scene is how Julian says "supposably" when describing science. Auggie corrects Julian saying that the correct thing to say is "supposedly". This can be due to how Auggie's disability is a hinder but that it also helps him when it comes to learning. Due to his disability he may spend a lot of time on his own instead of interacting with other kids his age. This could allow him to learn more and have better understanding of literature. Auggie is shot, off to the side which shows how he is secluded and on his own. It also shows how Julian is cornering him and how he is the one in charge.

On the other hand Julian (who is a fully abled person) has poor grammar and seems cooler than Auggie. His facial expression and dialogue shows how he might take being able bodied for granted and doesn't realise how lucky he is.   

The binary opposition of ability vs disability in this scene and throughout the films strongly shows how people with disability are more hidden away and less interactive with their peers, but it also shows how Auggie is a very bright and intelligent child which can be down to his disability and how he was home-schooled which can make his disability ( a negative thing) into a more positive thing.