This in particular: “But the decision to alter the storyline with Peeta’s leg really troubles me because of what it symbolises. Peeta becomes a prominently disabled character in the series, and his disability becomes part of his experiences. At the same time though, he’s not defined by the disability, consumed by it, and placed in the narrative for the sole purpose of constantly reminding everyone that he’s disabled.”
If only she had touched on Katniss and her deafness!
YES!!! i wish!
i completely agree! i was upset they left that part out about Peeta losing his leg! (Though just to clarify Peeta loses his leg due to injuries sustained at the last battle at the cornucopia not because of his previous injury and the blood poisoning.) but because of that very reason, for a prominent character, especially the focus of a romantic story line, it would be ‘unacceptable’ for disability to be prominent. and that is truly disheartening, because i love the way it is handled in the books.
as well, Katniss’s deafness, in the movie while ive been told, not overlooked (personally i didnt realize they showed it, since im deaf myself) was not handled at all other than a bit of fuzzyness with sound effects at the moment of the explosion.
where as in the book, its rather significant, at first she cant hear at all, either ear for a while, then regains the hearing in her right while still being deaf in the left, making her hard of hearing.
the way Katniss handles this is along the lines of, 'well, crap, im a hunter, i need my hearing for that, but other wise who gives a crap, im still alive and well’. and she moves on to kick ass. though Collins makes sure to bring it up numerous times through out the remainder of the book so the audience doesnt forget, Katniss is now hard of hearing.
as a deaf individual i loved this, because so often hearing people think AND say that losing their hearing would be the end of the world, no life could go on. but here in the midst of this atrocious situation, this girl loses a significant portion of her hearing 'permanently’ and she doesnt sit there and cry about it, she CONTINUES TO SURVIVE and do so in extremely hospitable circumstances.
in fact at one point she mentions how with all her winnings from the hunger games, she can just hire someone to hear for her. much akin to the use of an interpreter.
but this would be to much for the casual hearing audience, GASP the thought of the main character that everyone LOVES is deaf?? and is okay with it?! NO… CANT BE!!
thus that whole part was cut and the subsequent curing of her deafness by the Capitol.
The fact that the Capitol FIXES her hearing WITHOUT her consent, is to any deaf individual a very important and RELEVANT message. about the pathological view of deafness that it MUST be fixed, and its not your choice to do so, it is OURS, and the so called 'cure’ for deafness and forcing it on people and especially children WITHOUT their consent.
in my opinion, Katniss’s deafness, was an important part of her character and the story line and another great aspect of how disability was handled in THG books.