First Draft

Throughout history, society has consistently favored those who exhibit “normal” or average traits, and often idealizing these traits as symbols of reliability and productivity. People who differ—whether in physical appearance, cognitive function, or other attributes—are cast aside and are perceived negatively. These instances of prejudice are very common, ranging from social exclusion and microaggressions to structural discrimination. Consequently, those who do not fit into society’s standards of the norm are often pressured to hide their unique characteristics, adopting certain behaviors and appearances to conform themselves to societal expectations.

Within “Constructing Normalcy,” Lennard Davis traces the concept of the “norm” to statistical advancements in the 19th century, specifically the use of the bell curve to place humans on a scale for comparison. Anyone placed within the far left or right of the curve is deemed as abnormal and discriminated against. Since being normal was redefined as being able-bodied, anyone who did not fit that criteria was placed under the social construct of being disabled. Davis especially critiques the medical model of disability, since it treats disability as a handicap that needs correction. He argues that instead, society’s perception of disability should be geared towards it being an issue of access rather than a personal flaw. An example of a person hiding their difference from society is depicted in “The Man from Earth,” directed by Richard Schenkman. In the film, John Oldman recounts to his former colleagues that he is a 14,000-year-old Cro-Magnon who changes his identity and travels to a new place every decade to avoid being recognized as an immortal. Davis’ concept of normalcy correlates to how society’s rigid standards shape perceptions and judgments of individuals such as John Oldman who deviate from these standards. Oldman’s uniqueness places him under an unwanted spotlight with different lenses—anthropological, biological, psychological, historical, and medical. Through Davis’ lens, it is illustrated that individuals who fall outside the constructed boundaries of normalcy are looked upon with discomfort.

In “ Constructing Normalcy,” Davis argues the expectations of having a normal body and mind are socially constructed, with them being increasingly quantifiable traits. This creates a framework that categorizes people and reinforces the stigma and marginalization of those who differ. Constructing normalcy promotes conformity and pressures individuals to fit within a narrow parameter of standards. He states, “When we think of bodies, in a society where the concept of the norm is operative, then people with disabilities will be thought of as deviants” (Davis 7). The idea of being normal is a social invention that serves specific functions, such as allowing those with idealized traits to have dominant power. Although humans attempt to rank human traits using the bell curve, there are certain traits where people desire to become deviant. Therefore, society tends to favor traits such as intelligence and health, which are perceived as markers of superiority rather than valuing conformity to the norm (Davis 9). In such cases, there is a desire to become an outlier. However, there still exists a sense of social alienation, since it is outside of the norm. For this reason, society’s discomfort with difference stems not from inherent flaws in the abnormal but rather the arbitrary and lack of understanding, especially since they perceive themselves as conformed to the norm.

By examining “The Man from Earth” through Davis’ lens, it is evident that societal perceptions of identity and difference led to John Oldman conforming to normalcy by hiding any traits that would be repelled by society. Oldman embodies the tension between the desire for acceptance and the burden of being perceived as different. His immortality could be seen as an extraordinary trait that many would find desirable, but it was also the cause of his self-ostracization. The characters’ reaction to Oldman’s revelation, including his admittance to being Jesus, highlights how society fails to include those who defy conventional norms. Instead of being celebrated for his uniqueness, Oldman became a metaphorical test subject who was compelled to scrutiny and skepticism. The lens text states, “The emphasis on nation and national fitness obviously plays into the metaphor of the body. If individual citizens are not fit, if they do not fit into the nation then the national body will not be fit” (Davis 10). This is illustrated by Oldman’s need to relocate every ten years to conceal his immortality and the need for those who are abnormal to conform to societal expectations. The lens text also depicts that the establishment of normalcy creates a barrier within society. This point is emphasized through the reactions of Oldman’s colleagues: a blender of fascination, disbelief, denial, and even aggression. These reactions are a product of trying to maintain a perception of normalcy despite being in the face of anything but, proving the inevitability that there will always be a defensive reaction against the abnormal.

Although there were many overlapping points made between the text and the film, there exist contrasting reactions toward someone abnormal. Davis puts a lot of emphasis on how society rejects the abnormal and marginalizes those who do not fit into established norms, which causes them to conceal their differences. However, when Oldman reveals his immortality, rather than ostracizing him outright, they engage in a philosophical dialogue centered around his identity. This sort of engagement implies a more complex response to abnormality, suggesting that individuals have the freedom to react according to their free will, rather than having a reaction that conforms to reacting like the majority. Additionally, the reluctance in which Oldman reveals his immortality is related to the fear of how people will react to the abnormal. Towards the end of the film, Oldman tries to salvage the situation by attempting to pass it along as a joke, which most of the other characters accept. Although this meant that his previous attempt to break out of the mold society had set for him had been in vain, his altruism preserved the rigid framework of normalcy.

Society historically favors individuals exhibiting normal traits, often idealizing these characteristics while being prejudiced toward those who differ. In “Constructing Normalcy,” Lennard Davis correlates the concept of the norm to having the desire to fit in. However, certain traits that prefer the outlier rather than the center of the bell curve are desired because of the advantage it holds over the average. The film “The Man from Earth” illustrates this through the character of John Oldman, who hides his immortality to avoid societal rejection, which demonstrates how the rigid standards of society shape individuals like him, pressuring them to camouflage rather than stand out. Ultimately, both pieces highlight the need for a reevaluation of societal standards to foster inclusion and encourage individuality.

Final Draft

Society has consistently favored those who exhibit “normal” or average traits and often idealizes these traits as symbols of reliability and productivity. People who differ—whether in physical appearance, cognitive function, or other attributes—are cast aside and are perceived negatively. These instances of prejudice are very common, ranging from social exclusion and microaggressions to structural discrimination. Consequently, those who do not fit into society’s standards of the norm are often pressured to hide their unique characteristics, adopting certain behaviors and appearances to conform themselves to societal expectations.

While societal preference for certain traits has always existed, the formal concept of “normalcy” is a more recent construct. Within “Constructing Normalcy,” Lennard Davis traces the concept of the “norm” to statistical advancements in the 19th century, specifically the bell curve played a key role in establishing rigid standards of normalcy by placing humans on a scale for comparison. Through this framework, society began systematically assessing and marginalizing those outside the “norm”—particularly those on the far left or right of the curve—casting those with physical or cognitive differences as inherently flawed. Since being normal was redefined as being able-bodied, anyone who did not fit that criteria was placed under the social construct of being disabled. Davis especially critiques the medical model of disability, since it treats disability as a handicap that needs correction. He argues that instead, society’s perception of disability should be geared towards it being an issue of access rather than a personal flaw. An example of a person hiding their difference from society is depicted in “The Man from Earth,” directed by Richard Schenkman. In the film, John Oldman recounts to his former colleagues that he is a 14,000-year-old Cro-Magnon who changes his identity and travels to a new place every decade to avoid being recognized as an immortal. Davis’ concept of normalcy correlates to how society’s rigid standards shape perceptions and judgments of individuals such as John Oldman who deviate from these standards. Oldman’s uniqueness places him under an unwanted spotlight with different lenses—anthropological, biological, psychological, historical, and medical. Through Davis’ lens, it is illustrated that individuals who fall outside the constructed boundaries of normalcy are looked upon with discomfort.

In “ Constructing Normalcy,” Davis argues the expectations of having a normal body and mind are socially constructed, with them being increasingly quantifiable traits. This creates a framework that categorizes people and reinforces the stigma and marginalization of those who differ. Constructing normalcy promotes conformity and pressures individuals to fit within a narrow parameter of standards. He states, “When we think of bodies, in a society where the concept of the norm is operative, then people with disabilities will be thought of as deviants” (Davis 7). The idea of being normal is a social invention that serves specific functions, such as allowing those with idealized traits to have dominant power. Although humans attempt to rank human traits using the bell curve, there are certain traits where people desire to become deviant. Therefore, society tends to favor traits such as intelligence and health, which are perceived as markers of superiority rather than valuing conformity to the norm (Davis 9). In such cases, there is a desire to become an outlier. However, there still exists a sense of social alienation, since it is
outside of the norm and irregular. For this reason, society’s discomfort with difference stems not from inherent flaws in the abnormal but rather the arbitrary and lack of understanding, especially since they perceive themselves as conformed to the norm.

By examining “The Man from Earth” through Davis’ lens, it is evident that societal perceptions of identity and difference led to John Oldman conforming to normalcy by hiding any traits that would be repelled by society. Oldman embodies the tension between the desire for acceptance and the burden of being perceived as different. His immortality could be seen as an extraordinary trait that many would find desirable, but it was also the cause of his self-ostracization. The characters’ reaction to Oldman’s revelation, including his admittance to being Jesus, highlights how society fails to include those who defy conventional norms. Instead of being celebrated for his uniqueness, Oldman became a metaphorical test subject who was compelled to scrutiny and skepticism. The lens text states, “The emphasis on nation and national fitness obviously plays into the metaphor of the body. If individual citizens are not fit, if they do
not fit into the nation then the national body will not be fit” (Davis 10). This is illustrated by Oldman’s need to relocate every ten years to conceal his immortality and the need for those who are abnormal to conform to societal expectations. The lens text also depicts that the establishment of normalcy creates a barrier within society. This point is emphasized through the reactions of Oldman’s colleagues: a blender of fascination, disbelief, denial, and even aggression. These reactions are a product of trying to maintain a perception of normalcy despite being in the face of anything but, proving the inevitability that there will always be a defensive reaction against the abnormal.

Although there were many overlapping points made between the text and the film, there exist contrasting reactions toward someone abnormal. Davis puts a lot of emphasis on how society rejects the abnormal and marginalizes those who do not fit into established norms, which causes them to conceal their differences. However, when Oldman reveals his immortality, rather than ostracizing him outright, they engage in a philosophical dialogue centered around his identity. His friends ask him challenging questions about history, science, and religion while questioning the plausibility of his long life, hoping to catch any inconsistencies. It contrasts with Davis’s concept of societal “normalcy,” which often stigmatizes and excludes those who deviate from the norm. Here, the characters’ curiosity highlights the film’s emphasis on exploring extreme differences to catalyze an understanding rather than rejection. This sort of engagement implies a more complex response to abnormality, suggesting that individuals can choose to react thoughtfully and independently rather than conform to the majority’s reaction. Additionally, the
reluctance in which Oldman reveals his immortality is related to the fear of how people will react to the abnormal. Towards the end of the film, Oldman tries to salvage the situation by attempting to pass it along as a joke, which most of the other characters accept. Although this meant that his previous attempt to break out of the mold society had set for him had been in vain, his altruism preserved the rigid framework of normalcy.

Society historically favors individuals exhibiting normal traits, often idealizing these characteristics while being prejudiced toward those who differ. In “Constructing Normalcy,” Lennard Davis correlates the concept of the norm to having the desire to fit in. Some traits that fall at the extremes of the bell curve are preferred because they offer advantages over average traits. The film “The Man from Earth” illustrates this through the character of John Oldman, who hides his immortality to avoid societal rejection, which demonstrates how the rigid standards of society shape individuals like him, pressuring them to camouflage rather than stand out. Ultimately, both pieces highlight the need for a reevaluation of societal standards to foster inclusion and encourage individuality.

Works Cited

Davis, Lennard J., and Terje Holmgren. Constructing Normalcy Lennard J. Davis. LinköpingsUniversitet, 2009.

Schenkman, Richard, director. The Man from Earth, 2007,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAX2RuZm-Fk. Accessed 2024.