Published: 2019-02-051

“Troublesome” Bodies in Harmony Korine’s Films: Gummo and Julien Donkey-Boy in the Context of History of Physical Disability Representation in American Cinema

Adam Cybulski
Media - Culture - Social Communication
Section: Articles
https://doi.org/10.31648/mkks.2964

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse two films created by Harmony Korine, Gummo (1997) and Julien Donkey-Boy (1999), in the perspective of history of portraying physical disabilities in American cinema. The author is particularly interested in both avantgarde background of Korine’s works, and Rhonda S. Black and Michael T. Hayes’ idea of “discourse of pity” which is a theme that predominates in American films concerning questions of impaired bodies and somatic otherness. The article is an exploration of thematic and stylistic film elements which Korine uses to argue with the aesthetics of the “faulty” body used in the conventional storytelling of Hollywood films, politically correct supercrip stereotype, and mainstream cinema’s idea of symbolically “taming” a “troublesome” body, as it undermines social harmony as well as the American adoration of youth, health and beauty.

Keywords:

troublesome body, abnormal body, American cinema, Harmony Korine, freak show, discourse of pity, troublesome body, abnormal body, Amerian cinema, Harmony Korine, freak show, dicourse of pity

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Citation rules

Cybulski, A. (2019). “Troublesome” Bodies in Harmony Korine’s Films: Gummo and Julien Donkey-Boy in the Context of History of Physical Disability Representation in American Cinema. Media - Culture - Social Communication, 4(13), 11–39. https://doi.org/10.31648/mkks.2964

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