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With the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan amputees
and prostheses have been thrust into the limelight, and
regretfully it is events like this that drive the public’s
interest and needed prostheses research. With this awakened
interest in amputees and prostheses it is important that what
does reach the public is both factual and honest, and that is
our purpose.
We have already seen mainstream media pick up on
this with “amputees” from the conflict appearing on such
television shows as Law and Order and Cold Case. However, as was
the case in Cold Case real amputees were not used to depict
themselves in their own real life roles. In one episode of Law
and Order - Criminal Intent an above the knee amputee was
depicted as wearing a prosthesis for a below the knee amputee.
The role was that of an OIF veteran. It is our opinion that
amputees do have the talent and ability to contribute honestly
in roles where the character has a limb loss, and should be
allowed the opportunity to do so. As it is only through this
honest portrayal that the public will gain true understanding
and acceptance for those with limb loss in our society.
Too often we have seen in movies such as Treasure
Island, Peter Pan, Hook and The Fugitive the amputee has been
cast as a villain or in movies like Horse Whisperer and Duce
Bigalow a real prosthesis was not shown. Yet some television
shows such as CSI have an amputee cast member with no mention of
their amputation. In the movies Forrest Gump and Storm Troopers
we saw the introduction of the CGI Amputee. One extreme to the
other, no middle ground, and not the honest portrayal of the
amputee or prostheses.
However foreign made films like Crime Delicado have
broken new ground with a real amputee in a romantic lead role,
and older movies like the Monty Stratton Story, Reach for the
Sky, and Crossbar did a better job of portraying the amputee
honestly.
The TNT television series HawthoRNe is by far the
worst with the non-amputee actor making no attempt to emulate
the gait of an amputee, and in one scene showing a right leg
prosthesis for a left leg amputee.
It is our hope that through our efforts a more
honest portrayal of amputees and prostheses will be presented to
the public by the film and television industry.
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