Disnability

“Extremely enlarged facial feature. His large ears made him clumsy and awkward, and the other elephants considered him a ‘freak’. But then he discovered that those big funny ears could make him fly (which in my opinion makes this the best disability film ever). For the first time, I’d found someone I could relate to. I didn’t realise it then, but I had reclaimed him as a disabled role model.”—Victoria Lucas

At first glance, Disney’s Dumbo may not be though of as a film that portrays disability, but its protagonist Dumbo has a deformity— extra large ears. In the film, the baby elephant is ostracized. He is not allowed to participate in the circus and is seen as an outcast amongst his peers. An negative idea of oversized extremities is at first portrayed; however, Disney spins this difference in a whole new light. With the song, “When I Seen an Elephant Fly” marks the turn of pubic opinion. Soon enough Dumbo triumphs and is accepted for an elephant with over sized ears. This positive depiction of disability is commendable but Disney does still perceives as those with disability as different. In Dumbo’s case he is seen first as a victim and second as a freak and lastly as a supercrip. This stereotypes for those with disability are described in Jack A. Nelson’s article, “Broken Images: Portrayals of Those with Disabilities in American Media” and in Sally Chiver’s,  “The Horror of Becoming ‘One of Us’: Todd Browning’s Freak and Disability.”

In Nelson’s article he describes disabled people as victims, “disabled people are usually depicted as childlike,” (Nelson, 5). Dumbo is literally a child, but also illustrated as so through his dependency on his mother. These feelings leave Dumbo to feel ashamed of his disability. His ears makes him unique but because everyone around him isolates him he cannot help but think they are a curse. The little elephant does not have a lot of friends in the film. The friends he do have are not in the circus, but a mouse and a group of black crows. Dumbo be the minorities in his society. Furthermore, Dumbo is seen as a freak amongst his peers. He is not allowed to participate in the typical elephant role but shunned and belittled. He is downgraded to a clown, the lowest tier in circus hierarchy. As Chivers argues, Dumbo’s ear deformity challenges the social norms of his fellow elephants, and this leads to his freakish treatment. Society determines what is abnormal and this is labeled as “freakish.”

Although Disney reinforces the victim and freak stereotypes, their depiction of Dumbo does teach children to accept and overcome hatred. Dumbo is helped by his friend, it his friend Timothy the mouse to see that having big ears can be a good thing. Timothy tells Dumbo his ears are beautiful and tries to normalize big ears by trying to name celebrities with big ears. This is harder for Timothy than he expects, but Timothy is successful by framing big ears as a utility for flight. In order to gain acceptance in the circus (metaphor for society), Dumbo uses his ear to fly, a very unique and positive talent. This relates to Nelson’s idea of the supercrip, “the supercrip portrayal deals with a heartwarming struggle of someone likeable facing the trauma of a disability, who through great courage, stamina, and determination either succeeds in triumphing or succumbs heroically,” (Nelson, 6). Dumbo faces his disability and overcomes great obstacles. Disney portrays the struggles to overcome disability as psychologically challenging, but Dumbo strives by clutching a black feather that one of his black crow friends give for encouragement. Dumbo however prevails and soon enough appreciates his large ears and lets go of the black feather and all. 

Watch 0:55 for Dumbo’s first public humiliation:

When I See an Elephant Fly:

Questions for Your Children:

Do you feel like you can relate to Dumbo?

Why do you think the other friends think Dumbo’s ears are a bad thing?

How might you help Dumbo feel more accepted?

Dumbo has a friend mouse named Timothy, do you have a friend like Timothy?

I suggest using Disney films as a platform for introducing your children to more and more different types of disabilities whether it is physical, mental or social.