Why fictional villains are often portrayed as disabled

Why fictional villains are often portrayed as disabled

KERA's Think

From disabilities to disfigurements, fictionalized villains are reflections of an ableist worldview. Jan Grue, a professor at the University of Oslo and himself disabled, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss villains from Disney to 007 – and how these portrayals of people with disabilities spread harmful ideas. His article, “The disabled villain: why sensitivity reading can’t kill off this ugly trope,” was published by The Guardian.

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