This dissertation explores a television drama concept revolving around the ‘body swap’ genre of film and television, and the social attitudes towards mental disabilities during the Sixties period. By investigating disabilities of this nature during the selected era, the dissertation reflects the progress society has made towards bettering the understanding of hidden disabilities. Through following the characters of Bill and James, with their PTSD and high-functionality autism respectively, the body swap becomes a metaphor for their own feelings of helplessness and isolation within the period setting.
These ideas are explored through a screenplay and television bible, where research obtained on the social, political and cultural movements of the time period and the featured disabilities are incorporated to create a powerful and reflective narrative. The idea explores how these characters would behave and be treated by others during a time with so little knowledge available on the mentally disabled.
In order to conduct research into this project, many methods were utilized, such as examining other films within the body swap genre – Freaky Friday (2003) and Big (1988) being two notable examples – alongside similar concepts that combine the detective drama with a fantastical premise, such as Randall and Hopkirk Deceased (1969-1970) and Life On Mars (2006-2007). Additional information was also sourced online and within screenwriting textbooks, with data collected from charity organizations such as the National Autistic Society and Mind.org.
This dissertation demonstrates the issues faced by those with hidden disabilities during the Sixties, being labeled as ‘freaks’ and behavioral patterns associated with their disability being dismissed as ‘quirks’ in the absence of knowledge. Through today’s more enlightened society, the audience are expected to react with shock at the way these characters are treated within the screenplay, and show a level of understanding that the people of the Sixties did not possess.
