Disability In Finding Nemo

Family is the basic foundation found in all walks of life. The unique quality a family unit possesses is the ability to allow new members in. When challenging aspects are present within the unit such as a member having a disability, it’s important that the disability is understood and accepted rather than pushed aside. In the film Finding Nemo, the audience is given the opportunity to spot the differences within Dory the blue tang fish and Nemo the clownfish, through their accepted disabilities. The process of gazing at the disability within Dory and Nemo is what is focused on the most allowing for Witnessing, Murray’s three stages, to become evident in the film. Witnessing was constructed by Murray for the purpose of looking at disabilities …show more content…
Before the school day kicked off, Nemo ended up getting in a fight with his father Marlin over his negative beliefs about Nemo’s bad fin. To prove Marlin wrong, Nemo swam out to the drop off to touch the boat and was then taken by a diver. As a result, Marlin immediately began his journey to find his son. Along his journey to find Nemo, he happened to meet Dory. She attempted to help Marlin find Nemo, but struggled due to her disability of memory loss. By the end of their journey, Nemo was found and an unbreakable bond was formed between the two clownfish and …show more content…
The viewer begins to watch each character closely noticing the behaviors and actions which make them unique to their disability. With Nemo having a smaller fin, most of the watching regarding his disability was done as he tried to beat the odds put against him. (Walters & Stanton, Unkrich, 2003) draws attention to this idea in the scene where Nemo is designated to clog the filter in the tank, so the fish can escape to the ocean. On his first try, Nemo struggled in the tight tube because his fin was delaying him. On his second try, it took him just as long but he was able to accomplish the task just under his own measures. Although Nemo is always faced with other fish telling him he is incapable, he always persevered. On the other hand, Dory’s conversations with other fish is how the viewer was able to watch her disability. When Marlin would question her, she would respond with silly comments because she couldn't remember why she was doing what she was doing. Sadly, her silly comments left the viewers often laughing at her instead of with her. Dory was also given constant reminders throughout the film from Marlin, which would catch her up to speed. These constants reminders had such a positive impact on Dory that her memory loss started to improve. She began to remember little things when she was in the presence of Marlin which was something she was never able to do