The Incredibles: How giftedness is portrayed in the media or in popular culture.

This is my paper in EPSY 360-University of Connecticut (2007)

The Incredibles

How giftedness is portrayed in the media or in popular culture.

(Antonius Tanan)

The Incredibles was written and directed by Brad Bird and produced by John Walker. Brad Brid was a former Director of ‘The Simpsons’ and previously is best known for directing the 1999 animated movie ‘The Iron Giant’.

The movie was released at November 5, 2004. It was a computer-animated feature film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, centering around a family of superheroes. According to the Internet Movie Database, it was the highest-selling DVD of 2005, with 17.18 million copies sold. It had its basic cable première on ABC Family as part of ‘The 25 Days of Christmas’ in December 2007, and its second cable showing on Disney Channel as part of the ‘No Ordinary Friday’ on February 1, 2008.

The Story

The film begins in the setting of a Golden Age of superheroes. When Mr.Incredible (Bob Parr) dislodged a bomb he caused a train wreck and injured 100 people. He had to face lawsuits and then was forced into a government-sponsored protection program similar to witness protection, in order to be given immunity from lawsuits in exchange for ceasing all the super power he had.

From then on, Mr. Incredible (Bob Parr), and his wife Helen (Elastigirl) lived a “normal life” in Metroville with their three children: Violet (15 years old), Dash (10 years old) and the baby Jack-Jack. They had been forced to adopt civilian identities, and moved to the suburbs. Bob worked as an insurance claims specialist, and he had a very difficult time with his pushy and immoral boss. His wife, Helen was very busy taking care of the family.  Their children were also born as superheroes.  Violet was a shy girl who could turn invisible and she had the ability to create force fields, she wanted to have a normal and fitted in as a teen. Dash was super-fast, he could run extremely fast, he wanted to try out for sports, but he could not since his powers should be concealed. The baby Jack-Jack was only itching for a good time.  One day Bob got a chance to play the role of hero again by a mysterious informant, he jumped at the opportunity, but it was not that good because Bob found himself trapped by Syndrome, an embittered enemy who in his youth once idolized Mr. Incredible - and only his family could save him.

The Incridibles & EPSY 360

I have four inspirations on giftedness as portrayed in this movie. Firstly, the movie sends a message to the audience that we have to use our giftedness for the betterment of the community. It is an example on how an external context (in this case a movie) interacts with our gifted children. Silverman, in her book of "Counseling the Gifted and Talented," (1993), suggested that emotional development took place through interaction with four external contexts, they are the home, the school, the community, and peer relations - as well as the internal context of the inner psychic milieu. Movie can be a good education tools if the message is right.

Secondly, the movie sends a message that hiding giftedness will create an unhappy life. The Parr family is an example of a gifted family whose members are forced to be “underachievers”. They are not born to be underachievers but they must “exhibit a severe discrepancy between their real capacities with expected performances by normal people surrounding their life setting”. Family, school and community are not always friendly to giftedness. Gifted learners have inquisitive attitude, intellectual curiosity; intrinsic motivation; searching for significance and it may make them ask embarrassing questions; show strong-willed; resists direction; seems excessive in interests; expects same of others. The gifted learners may hide their curiosity and excessive interest when they realize that it is not a normal attitude in the family, school or community.

Thirdly, peer pressure may stimulate the gifted to voluntarily hide their giftedness because they do not want to be different. Violet and Dash decided intentionally (but not voluntarily) to be underachievers because their giftedness was not a normal thing according to their peer standard. It shows peer issues may also contribute to the underachievement of gifted children. However, positive peer interaction may contribute significantly to some students' reversal of underachievement.

Fourthly, practising giftedness in the family is enjoyable. Family is the safest place to enjoy, nurture and practise giftedness. The Parr family at the end of the story works togther to accomplish the mission. All of them participate in the mission according to their strengths. When giftedness is acknowleged and encouraged the journey of life becomes a celebration. I think it is an important task of parents to facilitate their gifted children in celebrating their giftedness.