Honors Program Theses

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Honors Program Thesis (UNI Access Only)

First Advisor

Jennifer Garrett

Keywords

Stutterers; Characters and characteristics in motion pictures;

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine how people who stutter (PWS) are portrayed in the film industry. Ten movies that were released over a wide span of decades were analyzed, and characteristics of the characters who stuttered were documented. Data were recorded on general film information (rating, year released, box office totals), traits of the PWS (age, gender, race), characteristics of the PWS (nervous, comedic, heroic, villainous), and characteristics of the stuttering (words per minute, percent dysfluency). A few discrepancies were found between the portrayal of PWS in the film industry, and the average PWS in real life. It was also found that many negative stereotypes surrounding dysfluent speech were perpetuated in these films. Film representations have a ways to go before accurately portraying this communication disorder.

Year of Submission

2014

Department

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

University Honors Designation

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the designation University Honors

Date Original

2014

Object Description

1 PDF file (25 pages)

Language

EN

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