[Willow, narrator] A lot of people said The Mods
from The Book of Boba Fett don’t fit in Star Wars
or at least not on Tatooine
And they don't
Which makes them pretty damn relatable as a disabled person
since the general view of society is we should not exist
Disability doesn't fit in the hell scape that is capitalism
At worst
we are treated as expendable
Just expected casualties
But even at best
many assume we are a mistake
Something that eventually will be prevented
or eliminated as technology improves
Despite the fact that many of us enjoy our lives
Some of us even take pride in our differences
Which is why I was filled with joy to see this scene
where a Mod named Skad is reporting in to Boba Fett
[Boba Fett] Keep an eye on them
Sorry
it’s an expression
[Willow] While well-intentioned
Boba’s awkward apology is not necessary
and rather silly
So it brought a big grin to my face when Skad responds:
[Skad] Don’t have to be sorry, mate
I paid a lot for this
I’m proud of my eye
[Willow] Whatever happened to Skad’s eye was probably beyond his control
but he did get to choose what to replace it with
Which isn’t exactly subtle
There’s no reason to think more inconspicuous eyes aren't available
Instead Skad got something bold
which may also give him additional capabilities
It reminds me of Aimee Mullins
and how she talks about her prosthetic legs
She has many options to choose from
Not only does this allow her to effectively choose her height
but she also has cheetah legs
and jellyfish legs
[Aimee Mullins] A prosthetic limb doesn’t represent the need to replace loss anymore
it can stand as a symbol that the wearer has the power
to create whatever it is that they want to create in that space
[Willow] Unfortunately
I think many see aesthetics as not important
and are especially overlooked when it comes to disability
So much so comments like this one I found assume The Mods aren’t even disabled:
[Redditor, voiced by Kevin of PixelLit] Did you even watch the show!?
They are not disabled
The only dialogue that exists in the show AT ALL
explains that they chose their mods on purpose for style purposes
That's why there's the scene of the trendy mod bar that Boba takes Fennec to!
[Willow, laughing] I find this especially funny because they’re referencing a scene
where Fennec literally has her life saved by modifications
but then assumes that EVERYONE else with mods couldn’t have also needed them
And then there is this comment:
[Redditor, voiced by Darkfry] What the hell are you even talking about?!?
The only reason the mods have their cybernetic parts is to be a more intimidating gang
no because they are disabled
You are being way too preachy and looking way too deep
[Willow] There is nothing wrong with any body modification someone wants to get
but it’s pretty unrealistic to assume that every
single one of The Mods had body parts like their legs
arms or eyes removed by choice
I think the underlying assumption in both of these comments is a
disabled person is just supposed to get something functional that makes them more ‘abled’
So anything that goes beyond that feels like proof that they are not disabled
So
in this video I hope to highlight why aesthetic choices like we see with The Mods
can make a lot of sense by exploring groups in real life that choose to stand out
How The Mods make disability representation in Star Wars better
and the importance and power of choosing to be visible
especially for marginalized groups like disabled people
What is One Scene for Joy?
Before we begin
I want to give a content warning for brief mentions of racism
and ableism
And I want to give a special thanks to Sara over at The Costume Codex
for starting the One Scene for Joy project
and making it open to everyone to participate in
The goal is to focus on media that brings us Joy which inspired me to
talk about one of my favorite little additions to the Star Wars universe
There will be links to the playlist down below
so I hope everyone checks them out
Alright
back to the video
Who Would Stand Out On Purpose?
While I can understand not liking how The Mods look
I think it's important to first understand why it could be realistic
So let's briefly look at a few groups in our own universe
Starting with the obvious inspiration for The Mods
The counterculture to austerity that originated in the 60s of Great Britain
The Mods
As you can see they may not have bright colors
but they clearly have a look that stands out
Perhaps most relevant to The Mods on Tatooine though is a phrase coined
by Peter Meaden that is often used to sum up the subculture
“Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances”
Popular aesthetic choices were made specifically to keep their clothes cleaner
After all
what’s the point of wearing nice clothes if they’re getting dirty
or ruined all the time?
Part of the reason scooters were used was
because they had less exposed parts compared to motorcycles
This meant clothes would be less likely to get oil
or other stains on them
It was also common to see ex-military parkas worn
because it would help keep their clothes clean while driving around
With this in mind
The Mods in Star Wars seem like they definitely represent
'Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances' on Tatooine
It’s easy to imagine there are technologies available to keep themselves
and their scooters clean
But let’s look at some more examples
Black Dandyism is a style of oppositional fashion in many places
Often using expensive clothing as a way to fight against dehumanizing racial stereotypes
In the Republic of the Congo AND Democratic Republic of the Congo
there are the Sape which is short for the Society of Ambiance-Makers
and Elegant People
In the Soweto township in South Africa there have been cultures like the Skhothane
As you can see many dress using more vibrant colors than we see even with The Mods
And much like how the Mods seem to be criticized for not being practical
these groups are sometimes accused of just being wasteful
It reminds me of how conservatives bemoan spending habits of the poor working class here in the US
Which of course ignores the material reality that
no amount of saving is going to magically change everyone’s status
People who may not have better opportunities should
and can still save money for things for themselves
I also think only considering this clothing as
purchase choices is framing them with what is acceptable in the status quo
This conveniently ignores the political message these choices can have
Sometimes much more than just symbolically
In this self portrait by Samuel Fosso
everything he is wearing was illegal at the time where it was taken in the Central African Republic
Throughout history restrictions to clothing has been enforced
on marginalized groups like black people
and women as one way to oppress them
It’s a forced visual reminder of their status
For disabled people our very appearance was considered a public offense with
laws now commonly referred to as the Ugly Laws
The last of which was not repealed in the United States until 1974
This was the wording of one such law in Chicago:
[Chicago Law, read by Emileigh] Any person who is diseased
maimed
mutilated
or in any way deformed
so as to be an unsightly or disgusting object
or an improper person to be allowed in
or on the streets
highways
thoroughfares
or public places in the city
shall not therein or thereon expose himself
or herself to public view
under the penalty of a fine
[Willow] Some of these laws also included cognitive disabilities
The Ugly Laws are just one of many ways disabled people have been hidden from society
Along with asylums
segregated schools
hospitals and nursing homes
With this in mind I want to introduce Sky Cubacub who is the
creator of Rebirth Garments which are gender non-conforming wearables
and accessories for people on the full spectrum of gender
size and ability
[Sky Cubacub] I believe a simple
yet effective way to combat this invisibility cloak that society
has put over our communities is by refusing to assimilate through dress reform movement
I would like to suggest a new
politically forceful
aesthetic style called Radical Visibility
[Willow] Sky draws inspiration from past struggles of oppressed people
Like the suffragettes with The Women’s Dress Reform Movement
For anyone who wishes to join the Radical Visibility movement
Sky suggests several things to keep in mind when designing clothing
Such as using bright and high-contrasting colors combined with geometric patterns
Making clothing that highlights our bodies ESPECIALLY our differences
Which includes not feeling required to wear a prosthetic BUT if you do want to wear one
consider one not based on realism
Which brings us back to Star Wars
How the Mods Represent Disability
There have been cybernetic prosthetics before with Darth Vader
and Luke Skywalker
But both of these fall into a common trope of painting disfigurement as a sign of being evil
[Luke Skywalker] Nooooo!
[Willow] I include Luke in this because while he is presented as good
his cyborg parts are used to represent how easily he could turn into someone like Vader
This kind of media representation can feed into social stigmas around physical differences
The Mods however present an alternative
Not only do their cybernetic enhancements not imply becoming evil
they are not worried about their prosthetics looking conventionally “human” at all
This is a welcome addition to the universe which actually reduces
the negativity attached to the previous portrayals
Because The Mods existing show that the struggle Luke and Vader had are
not inherently related to their disabilities
or machinery
At least for live action Star Wars
I have heard some of the animated series had more
representation like this but I’m not quite as familiar with those shows
so if you know of any great examples let me know in the comments so I can check them out
There is also a long history of cyborgs in relation to disability
After all
many disabled people rely on some form of technology to survive
Whether it’s prosthetics
power chairs
ventilators or so much more
Including things many would overlook like biologics
or antidepressants
Unfortunately
popular perception often focuses on cyborgs solely as the dream of the engineer
Technological advancements to further what humanity can do
Essentially how can technology make us more productive because…
[unenthused] yay capitalism
The disabled poet Cy talks about this in the essay The Dawn of the Tryborg
Cy defines Tryborg as someone who doesn’t need technology to
survive or someone who has not engaged with disability thought
or activism
Often a nondisabled person who does not survive with technology but instead fetishizes it
This is the norm and results in a focus on miracle tech projects that are painted as game changers
For example
you may have seen this wheelchair that can climb stairs!
And to be clear
I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with being fascinated with new technologies but
it’s also important to recognize how frustrating it is that these projects can get enormous funding
but much simpler options that would serve everyone like just having a ramp are not being done
Not to mention there are actual disabled cyborgs desperately hoping their
GoFundMe’s succeed so they can get access to basic healthcare
including things like wheelchairs
There are an estimated 132 million people who need
wheelchairs across the world with over 110 million not having access to one
To put that in perspective
That’s more people than the combined populations of the UK
and Canada
It’s also more than 1/3rd of the population in the US
Or around the size of California
Texas
Florida
and New York combined
And the cost of the stair-climbing wheelchair?
Around $40,000
Much higher than the cost of more common wheelchairs
And a lot more than just building a ramp which is permanent
and can be used by everyone in the community
This is something I may explore more in a future video but the point I want to
make here is the focus is always on what the Tryborgs want instead of what Cyborgs want
You know
the people actually disabled in which the technology is fundamental to who they are
This includes futuristic visions that will supposedly eliminate disability altogether
The reddit comments from the start of this video that denied The Mods were disabled were actually
replying to one of the only comments I saw referring to The Mods as disabled
Which I was glad to see but then I read this line:
[Redditor, voiced by Nina] Cybernetics helped these characters
who would have been disabled
live a normal life
[roblox death sound]
This mindset while well-meaning implies it would be better off if we did not exist
We see this mindset contrasted between The Mods versus Boba Fett
and Fennec Shand
[Boba Fett] Keep an eye on them
Sorry, it’s an expression
[Willow] Earlier I said this apology is silly because while
there are some expressions that can be inherently disrespectful
For example
using ‘blind’ as shorthand for being unaware
In general
referring to eyes would not be
And also… like if the expression was harmful
saying it’s an expression isn’t actually better
It’s a little bit like saying something is “just a joke”
It’s also kind of weird to assume Skad wouldn’t know this expression
[laughing] But it’s great writing because this is exactly the kind
of interactions many of us have when someone knows about our disability
What Boba is saying is more about easing his own
discomfort in not knowing how to address a disabled person
The implication is that Boba Fett may have accidentally
drawn attention to Skad’s cybernetic eye
and he thinks that would be bad
As if Boba has broken an unspoken rule of “not seeing differences”
Which again
is well-meaning
but ultimately tiring when you are often on the receiving end of this type of exchange
No one wants to pretend like part of themselves doesn’t exist
And awkwardly tip toeing around our disability ends up being a reminder of how we are seen
or rather how we don’t want to be seen
Which is why I just love seeing the joy in Skad’s response
[Skad] Don’t have to be sorry, mate
I paid a lot for this
I’m proud of my eye
[Willow] Our disabilities and our support devices are a part of us
The Mods are cyborgs who got technology they wanted
It’s customized to each of them
Not something mass produced
Because there is an underlying assumption built in to most technology
That we just want to blend in
A great example I think is Alice Wong in her
Disability Visibility podcast episode about Cyborgs she mentions she thinks
it's creepy that there are little doll toes on every prosthetic foot
and why would she want that?
There’s no reason for a prosthetic foot to need toes
So there is all this extra work which goes into
details under this assumption that everyone wants to blend in
And that’s because the people with the actual experience of
being a Cyborg don’t get to drive the conversation on what technology is wanted
or needed
That’s all done by Tryborgs
And to be clear
That doesn’t mean it’s wrong to want to fit in
But how many people feel like they *have* to
Whether that’s internalizing societal norms
or because they don’t have community that accepts them
Boba Fett and Fennec Shand are people whose lives revolve around them being extraordinarily capable
Being seen as strong
So both of them see their disabilities as something to overcome
or hide
Which is why I loved The Mods were the first to
help when Boba is attacked inside the bacta tank
Fennec Shand wouldn’t be there while Boba uses the bacta tank
Because she sees it as something best to not be acknowledged
Just like how she hides her modifications with a wrapping around her waist
To The Mods
this is just life and they recognize when they might be vulnerable
For another example
let's look to when Boba brings Fennec to get modifications to save her life
[Boba Fett] Aren’t you gonna close her up?
[Willow] For them
the technology is something foreign
and unwanted
[scary music plays] [Fennec Shand] What did you do to me?
[Willow] They use the tech begrudgingly if they don't have a choice
or if it makes them stronger
They are Tryborgs
But to a cyborg
the technology is not other
As we see when the Modifier answers Boba
[Modifier] And cover all that beautiful machinery?
[Willow] Or as Cy says referring to Cy’s prosthetic leg:
[Cy Jillian Weise quote read by Ponderful ] you call this my 'fake leg'
And when you do that
you distance me from myself
I call this 'my leg'
It is real to me
I experience it perhaps more than you experience your own leg
[Willow] On Being Radically Visible
[Willow] I get it if The Mods’ aesthetic isn't for you
but I hope to have shown the appeal of living like The Mods
And to maybe have pushed back on the temptation to think being too visible is cringe
or something Because being overly visible
we get to flip the script
Express loudly that we take pride in our differences
To question the limits society tries to put on humanity
As well as send a message to others out there that they are not alone
That they can be proud of who they are as well
And sometimes most importantly if they're struggling
there are other ways of being out there
More options exist
And in that beauty of pushing to expand rather than conform it ultimately helps everyone
Maybe you noticed a lot of the real world examples
I gave earlier also blurred the lines of gender norms
even The Mods back in the 60s
Which is why I don't just see myself in The Mods as a disabled person but as a trans person
It provides freedom of expression which in turn leads to more accessibility
When there are limited assumptions of what is functional
it always leaves some people out
For example
we might get a trans clothing line
but the clothes don’t work except for a few body sizes
and shapes
Or the clothing is not made with sensory issues in mind
making them unwearable for some autistic people
We need more clothing like Rebirth Garments
Everything is custom made
Recognizing that the intersection of our identities matter
and should be celebrated
I really hope we see The Mods and disability explored a lot more with the future of Boba Fett
because it fits in nicely with his entire motivation to form community in the first place
Recognizing that the way things have been done sucks
After all
why should we limit our imagination of what humanity can be?
Especially in a setting where humans co-exist with Wookies
Jawas
Ewoks and more
Thanks for watching everyone!
Please check out the playlist linked below for more videos from the One Scene for Joy project
Thanks again to The Costume Codex for starting this!
And if you want to learn more about disabled people not wanting to be cured
maybe check out my video on Hawkeye
And of course thank you to our patrons!
Take care of yourselves everyone
And remember
You’re not alone