Film Screening of Code of the Freaks, with writer and producer Aly Patsavas

Code of the Freaks, a feature-length documentary, is a radical reframing of the use of disabled characters in film. From The Fake Beggar (1895), Of Mice and Men (1939) and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) to more contemporary films like Million Dollar Baby, Forrest Gump, Avatar, Fences and Me Before You, Hollywood continues to crank out all the old disability clichés and hollow inspirational narratives – what disability activists call “inspiration porn” – that have served so well for more than a century. Code of the Freaks (the title is a line from Tod Browning’s 1932 classic Freaks) counters these formulaic entertainments with a powerful corrective: it dares to imagine a cinematic landscape that takes disabled people seriously.

Sponsored by the Center for the Humanities

We strive for all Disability Culture Month events to be inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. If you require reasonable accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the Disability Center at disabilitycenter@missouri.edu

Giveaway Alert!

Attend two or more Disability Culture Month events for a chance to win one of five Champion backpacks! Each event you attend increases your chances. Make sure to check in through Engage at each event. Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via their university email. Thanks to Champion for their generous donation.

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Julie Elman

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