The emancipating dwarf : cultural representations of short-statured characters
Abstract
Dwarfs and short-statured characters play an essential function in narratives, but they
are often overlooked or dismissed. These characters, however, are not only in stories
to add whimsy or to ‘spice up’ the atmosphere; they help the story progress. In order
to understand the role short-statured characters play, we will first look at tribal rites
of passage, as described by Arnold van Gennep (1873-1957) and Victor Turner (1920-
1983), in which scale is often changed and opposites mixed in the liminal period of
the rites. The short-statured characters, often, but not at all times, represented as
dwarfs, have the effect of bringing the story into a liminal space, and this often
liberates the averaged-bodied characters by changing their perspectives. This,
however, is not always fair to the dwarf because she is relegated to the margins, and
therefore is stuck in the liminal space without the opportunity of assimilation. The
dwarf remains a freak. Therefore, we will look at the burgeoning study of ‘freakery’,
which has identified many elements associated with ‘freaks’ that are shared with the
liminal period, the medieval idea of the monstrous, and the carnival.
In the second half of the thesis, is an excerpt from the novel Little Aldo, which takes
the theory examined in the academic half and uses it to create a work of fiction. Little
Aldo is a dwarf who has become a prominent advisor in American politics, but he
comes to a point in his life where he must choose between his career and his true
feelings.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Rights
Embargo Date: 2027-06-26
Embargo Reason: Thesis restricted in accordance with University regulations. Print and electronic copy restricted until 26th June 2027
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