Blog 1. Introduction to this Blog Series
In the 218 episodes of the X Files and two full length feature films which aired from 1993 to 2018, more than half of the episodes portrayed a person with a disability, perceived disability or a reference to disability. This provides an amazing wealth of data to explore how this highly rated series which has been said to originate long form television, influenced a generation of women entering science (the Scully effect) and greatly influenced the concept of fandom in the internet age, portrayed the subject of disability and persons with disabilities. I wish I could make the announcement that through my examination and study I have found a similar effect for persons with disabilities as the Scully effect. In fact, I cannot although I can say that in every X Files episode where persons with intellectual /developmental disabilities are portrayed at least one person is employed in the community.
The X Files episodes are not consistent in their portrayal or references. One common theme is individuals who believed they have been abducted by aliens or experienced paranormal events are wrongly diagnosed with mental disorders and hospitalized. Beyond that every single disability trope is portrayed. Disability with supernatural super powers, persons with disability as dangerous, persons with disability as heroes are all typical literary tropes which play out time and again in The X Files. Disability as “other” in a world inhabited by “others” have a reoccurring but more nuanced appearances in many episodes. Perhaps it make sense that, with a show with rotating writers, and, without a single reoccurring character with a clear disability, there is not one common or prevailing theme. This is even more reason to consider the episodes.
There are some themes important to consider throughout the series The Mulder/ Scully dynamic of believer and skeptic leads to an interesting look at interactions with the criminal justice system and persons with disabilities and the medical community and persons with disabilities. There is a preoccupation with genetic mutations as horrific There are some fascinating crazy vs spooky vs trauma dynamics. There are some of the best episodes of television ever created to review.
On this last point, there is one writer who is routinely credited for bringing humor to The X Files who is not credited enough with a unique portrayal and sensitivity to individuals with disabilities. Darin Morgan in Humbug manages to portray in a humorous way the two agents profiling a person as a suspect simply because of a disability and manages to turn the tables so Mulder’s unnaturally good looks make him the “other”. In War of the Cacrophages Mr Morgan provides a character with a significant impact of disability and no clear cut plot device in creating that character to have a disability. What then should we make of his rewrite of the rock scene in Quagmire when Mulder wishes he had been born with a peg-legged or in his season 11 episode where Reggie is driven away in a straight jacket to a mental asylum?
I hope you will join me in my journey through yet another X Files rewatch with a decisively disability focused discussion. Comments are appreciated to any blog.
My background....I am a professional advocate for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and a sibling of an individual with significant behavioral impact of disability. My academic background includes an interest in rhetoric and America’s culture. I have a M.A. in American Studies. I have also presented at conferences on the topic of the twenty year progress in disability inclusion as seen through an examination of disability as portrayed in Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation.