alcomol:
adeadgirlandherfriends:
speechdisorder:
tumblr: we want more characters with mental illnesses!!
kylo ren: lashes out frequently, cannot control his emotions, has anger issues, feels like he’s being torn apart, is suffering because of his overwhelming thoughts, uses his pain to keep him going, and shows symptoms of a variety of mental illnesses
tumblr: no not that one
idk how being a fascist and a violent misogynist is really linked to mental illness
rey: has obvious abandonment issues, treats everyone automatically with hostility, doesn’t trust anyone at face value
finn: went through years of abuse, is constantly terrified of everything, compulsively lies, gets incredibly emotional, has what is akin to an anxiety attack within the first ten minutes of the movie
op: okay but what about A Fascist
Do you think these two commenters realize that they’re proving OP’s point?
Tumblr (as a trend, not individual posters) really likes mental illness and disability, but only as long as it’s friendly mental illness and disability. Tumblr likes depression and anxiety. Tumblr likes people who are victims of abuse. Tumblr likes wheelchairs. All of this is comfortable for Tumblr.
Tumblr really, really hates being taken out of its comfort zone.
Tumblr hates that difficulty managing anger is a mental illness. That schizophrenia, psychosis, and addiction are mental illnesses. Tumblr hates that sometimes disability is invisible, or is cumulative, or has good days and bad days.
Tumblr wants people with mental illnesses and disabilities to be Virtuous Saints Suffering Under The Vagaries Of This Wretched Earth. Tumblr can’t stand being asked to treat people with mental illnesses and disabilities as, you know, people. (I know this is awkward when we’re talking about fictional characters – but Tumblr does this to real people too.) If someone is a Virtuous Saint etc. then their mental illness or disability is Acceptable. And if not? Well, they don’t really have a mental illness or a disability, they’re a Vile Sinner Who Should Be Shunned.
It’s terrible. It’s not awareness or empathy, it’s inspiration porn.
That Kylo Ren is a fascist – or at least has aligned himself with them – doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a mental illness. (I don’t see the “misogynist” angle, but I only saw the film once.) In fact, it’s easy to argue that his decision to align with the First Order is a result of his attempts to deal with his mental illness. He’s not a Vile Sinner any more than Rey and Finn are Virtuous Saints. They are, all three of them, complicated characters.
Bonus: That Rey and Finn weren’t mentioned in the original post doesn’t mean they’re not also important. But this post wasn’t about them!
gaylukes 