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Gravity Is My Enemy

Name: Gravity Is My Enemy
Director: John C. Joseph
Released: 1977
Duration: 26 min

Representation Score

7.1/10

Good

1977

Director

John C. Joseph

Runtime

26 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Gravity Is My Enemy is a focused character study that succeeds by granting a significant role in driving the story to its subject. By documenting Mark Hicks's life as a student and artist, the film moves past tragic clichés to highlight professional and academic achievement. While the documentary excels in disability representation, it remains narrow in its scope. It does not engage with broader multi-layered frameworks, such as LGBTQ+ identities or specific racial dynamics, leaving those areas largely unaddressed. Ultimately, the film serves as a meaningful study of neuro-physical diversity. It disrupts conventional narratives of incapacity by presenting disability as a facet of identity rather than a state of total dependency.

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Category Breakdown

Does Gravity Is My Enemy have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly address LGBTQ+ characters or themes. It focuses on the personal experiences of disability and artistic pursuits without mentioning non-straight relationships.

How does Gravity Is My Enemy portray gender?

Fair

The documentary centers on Mark Hicks's journey. It avoids traditional patriarchal or domestic hierarchies, emphasizing his individual role over gendered roles or family structures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Gravity Is My Enemy?

Fair

Set across Manhattan Beach, UCLA, and San Francisco, the film does not specify the racial composition of its subjects. There is no evidence of overt whitewashing or homogeneous themes.

How does Gravity Is My Enemy represent religion and culture?

Good

The film challenges notions of productive citizenship by centering on a quadriplegic artist. It emphasizes intellectual and academic merit, disrupting expectations of disability as pure dependency.

Does Gravity Is My Enemy include disability representation?

Excellent

This is the film's primary strength. It avoids 'inspiration porn' by focusing on Hicks's intellectual contributions and professional output as an artist and UCLA student.

Present on Screen

Provides a significant role in driving the story to individuals with physical disabilities.
Avoids 'inspiration porn' by focusing on intellectual and professional merit.
Disrupts traditional narratives of incapacity through an artistic lens.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit engagement with LGBTQ+ themes or identities.
Provides little detail regarding racial or ethnic diversity within the social environment.
Does not explore multi-layered identity politics beyond physical disability.

Official Synopsis

A look at artist Mark Hicks of Manhattan Beach, California, a quadriplegic since falling out of a tree at age 14. His work is examined, along with a discussion of his being a student at UCLA, culminating with his first gallery show in San Francisco.

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