Whoosh! Issue Nine - June 1997



JOXER FROM A DISABILITY PERSPECTIVE
IAXS Research Project #229
By Virgina Carper (carperv@FRB.GOV)
Copyright © 1997 held by author
2766 words



WHO IS JOXER?
SOME OF JOXER'S ADVENTURES
WHAT MAKES HIM A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY?
DR. I.C. GILLBERG'S CRITERIA FOR ASPERGER'S SYNDROME

  • Severe impairment in reciprocal social interaction
  • All-absorbing narrow interest
  • Imposition of routines and interests
  • Speech and language problems
  • Non-verbal communication problems
  • Motor clumsiness
  • Has a family history of mental disorders
    HOW PEOPLE SEE JOXER AND A RESPONSE
    FROM ZERO TO HERO
  • The Zero
  • The Hero
    WHAT PEOPLE CAN LEARN FROM JOXER
    FOR MORE INFORMATION



  • JOXER FROM A DISABILITY PERSPECTIVE





    He's a very tidy guy

    Joxer the Mighty


    [01] He's Joxer, the Mighty! He's Joxer, the Village Idiot! Which is he? An incompetent booby or a lion-hearted warrior?

    [02] Joxer is neither. He is most likely a man who has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. As a disability rights advocate and as someone with a mental disorder, I have known many people like Joxer. To anyone with a mental or nervous disorder, Joxer is 'one of us'. To anyone else, he is only a goofy and childish man.




    WHO IS JOXER?


    And you only THINK I am stupid...

    Joxer and his trusty teeny weeny knife


    [03] "Joxer the Mighty, at your services," he gravely introduced himself to Xena and Gabrielle in CALLISTO (#22). Joxer's father, as were his forefathers, was a warlord. Before embarking on his adventures, Joxer prepared himself to be a warlord. He pounded by hand the metal for his breast plate, and sewed his warrior garb from leather and metal scraps. Proud of his accomplishments, Joxer left home to seek a name for himself.




    SOME OF JOXER'S ADVENTURES


    "Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."
    -- Helen Keller, who was Deaf and Bind



    [04] In CALLISTO, Joxer meets Xena, whom he irritates so much, that she punches him in the nose. In response, he merely shrugs his shoulders, "She must be threatened." Later, Joxer so annoys Gabrielle, that she breaks his crossbow. However, the "goofy and inane" Joxer surprises Xena and Gabrielle, when he refuses to carry out Callisto's order to kill Gabrielle, thereby putting his own life in danger.

    Ever have one of those days?

    Joxer equipted with the head of Orpheus
    in GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN


    [05] While being chased by rabid wolves, Joxer, again, blunders into Xena and Gabrielle. In GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN (#28), he carries the head of Orpheus, who has charged Joxer with finding Xena. Still annoying, Joxer helps them defeat the Bacchae. He does what none of the others can do. He plays Orpheus' lyre to calm the legions of Bacchus (Dionysus), the God of Wine.

    [06] When Joxer helps Xena to save Gabrielle from the clutches of Callisto, he earns her grudging respect. In RETURN OF CALLISTO (#29), he offers his life for Gabrielle. "I know you don't think much of me but I care what happens to Gabrielle. I would give up my own life." Gently, Xena tells him, "You got a good heart, Joxer."

    [07] In INTIMATE STRANGER (#31), Joxer fails to apprehend Theodorus, Callisto's former lieutenant. Instead, Theodorus' men capture and suspend him from a roof beam. Angrily, Theodorus interrogates Joxer, "Why are you following me?" As he swings back and forth, Joxer solemnly answers, "To bring you to Justice just as Xena did Callisto." Before he comes to any harm, Xena and Gabrielle rescue him.

    His finest moment

    Joxer, defending a wounded Argo
    in INTIMATE STRANGER


    [08] Sometime later, Joxer happens upon Xena, who is now in Callisto's body, standing over a badly wounded Argo. Waving his sword in her face, Joxer challenges her. "STAY BACK, I MEAN IT. Now I don't know what you did to the horse..." Xena reassures him that Argo will be all right, and thanks him for defending her horse.

    [09] In FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS (#40), Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, uses Joxer to prove a point -- that she could make any incompetent booby into a hero. Joxer switches between himself and the suave and debonair Joxer, whenever he hears a bell. Confused, he tries to find out what is happening to him. When he discovers that he is the butt of Aphrodite's cruel joke, Joxer cries. Xena reassures him that he has a brave heart.




    WHAT MAKES HIM A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY?


    "The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it intuition or what you will, and the solution comes to you, and you don't know how or why."

    -- Albert Einstein, who had Asperger's Syndrome


    [10] A person with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), a form of autism, never quite fits in because of his or her eccentric behavior. Within their family, such a person with AS is often the odd relative. For example, he or she is interested in making friends but lacks the ability to understand the rules governing social behavior. He or she fails to respond to social clues and does not understand why they annoy people.

    [11] Dr. Edward Hallowell (pediatrician) describes a man with AS: "But he had no friends. He did not know how to make contact with other people. His coordination was poor and he was quite clumsy. He often made funny flapping movements with his hands and arms, so his appearance set him apart as well. When I met his father, I saw immediately where the son had come from."

    [12] Swinging from side to side as he walks, Joxer sings "I'm Joxer, the Mighty..." Proud of his warrior garb, Joxer struts about wearing his odd clothing. In his pursuit of making a name for himself, Joxer ignores the advice of Xena and Gabrielle. He is unlike anyone they have encountered in their travels.




    DR. I.C. GILLBERG'S CRITERIA FOR ASPERGER'S SYNDROME


    [13] Dr. Gillberg practices child and adolescent psychiatry and his criteria is based on DSM-IV: Asperger's Syndrome: 299.80

    [14] 1. Severe impairment in reciprocal social interaction


    (See
    HOW PEOPLE SEE JOXER AND A RESPONSE )

    [15] 2. All-absorbing narrow interest

    • (a) exclusion of other activities
    • (b) repetitive adherence
    • (c) more rote than meaning

    I've been told that this happens to you often

    Joxer being requested to kill Gabrielle
    in CALLISTO


    [16] Joxer thinks that he is a great warlord, but actually, he is quite ineffective. He knows how to be a warrior by rote, not by experience. His song lists what he wants to be:

    Joxer the Mighty,
    He roams through the countryside;
    He never needs a place to hide.
    . . . .
    Righting wrongs and singing songs,
    Being mighty all day long,
    . . . .
    Joxer the Mighty,
    He's very tidy.

    [17] 3. Imposition of routines and interests


    Xena and Joxer discuss her plan to foil Meg's plot in WARRIOR...PRINCESS...TRAMP (#30). Xena tells him, "By the way, don't worry about keeping an eye on her anymore." Offended, Joxer replies, "YOU think Gabrielle can do it better that me!" Xena sighs, "It's not a competition." Still angry, Joxer tells her, "You think I'M A COMPLETE JOKE, don't you."

    [18] 4. Speech and language problems

    • (a) superficially perfect expressive language
    • (b) formal, pedantic language
    • (c) odd prosody, peculiar voice characteristics
    • (d) impairment of comprehension including misinterpretations of literal/implied meanings


    I'm never going to let you forget this, Sam

    Joxer in chains
    in FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS


    Confused, Joxer tries to fathom his "warrior haze." Gabrielle helps him by asking Joxer what he did before meeting her. He thinks, "...woke up, ate breakfast, met you, guarded your back, met Aphrodite, had a pomegranate..." He weighs each event with the same importance. (FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS)

    [19] King Lineas, the father of Prince Sarphedon, asks the "suave and debonair" Joxer why he is so successful at sword play, Joxer replies, "Eat right. Exercise. Get a little constipated." (Apparently, Aphrodite's spell had no effect on his thought processes.) (FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS)

    [20] 5. Non-verbal communication problems


    Joxer stands stiffly, with a wide eye stare. His mouth is often open as though he is catching flies.

    [21] 6. Motor clumsiness: poor performance on neurodevelopmental examination

    Joxer trips over his own feet. Joxer uses his weapons clumsily.

    [22] 7. Has a family history of mental disorders.

    I refuze to leave zis epizode!

    Fwench Fweedom Fwighter Jacques S'er (aka Jack Kleinman from Joisey) to ze rescue!


    Ares, the God of War, confronts Jack Kleinman, a descendent of Joxer. He sneers, "You come from a long line of unadulterated idiocy, intact. Kleinman, unhappily confides to Janice Covington, "He's right. I'm 4F. My father's 4F." (XENA SCROLLS, #34)




    HOW PEOPLE SEE JOXER AND A RESPONSE


    "The only guide to a man is his conscience; the only shield to his memory is the rectitude and sincerity of his actions; with this shield, however the fates may play, we march always in the rank of honor."
    -- Winston Churchill, who had dyslexia, was manic-depressive, and stuttered.



    [23] People who are not diagnosed with anything (NDA) have little knowledge of what it is to be a person with a disability (PWD). Many NDAs do not realize that the brain, as an organ, can be diseased or injured. When a NDA and PWD interact, frustration and anger can result since quite often neither can effectively talk with the other.


    [24] IOLAUS: To Iolaus, Joxer is an unwelcome and unwanted pest. Joxer asks him to be his sidekick. Iolaus brushes Joxer aside, "You're completely deluded." Still, Joxer persists in pursuing him. Iolaus grits his teeth, "It's all in your mind, what little there is, if at all." Joxer continues to pester him. Finally, Iolaus explodes, "I WILL SAY THIS VERY SLOWLY." (HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS: WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN, #51).

    [25] RESPONSE: Iolaus assumes that Joxer is stupid. He insults Joxer, never realizing that Joxer could not comprehend what he is saying. Being shouted at is a common experience for many PWDs. Iolaus could simply tell Joxer that he remains loyal to Hercules.


    [26] CALLISTO: When she first sees Joxer, she laughs. "Why dear man, do you look like a worthless idiot? Joxer solemnly replies, "I cultivate that look. No one fears an worthless idiot." After he refuses to kill Gabrielle, Callisto taunts him, "Just as I thought, the man's backbone is mush." (CALLISTO)

    [27] RESPONSE: Callisto disregards Joxer since he is a worthless idiot. She laughs at him, never realizing how competent he really is. Twice, Joxer foils her plans to kill Gabrielle.


    Amazing that you still have a nose

    Aphrodite touching The Man
    in FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS


    [28] APHRODITE: Aphrodite sees Joxer as a toy. She plays with him, calling him, "her stud muffin." When she is done fooling with him, she announces, "He's an idiot again." (FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS)

    [29] RESPONSE: The attitude of "PWDs have no feelings" is unfortunately quite common. Aphrodite hurts Joxer by telling him that he is worthless.


    Amazing! Her's really is bigger than mine!

    Joxer threatening Gabrielle with his trusty teeny weeny cross-bow
    in CALLISTO


    [30] GABRIELLE: Joxer annoys her. She whacks him on the side of his head with her staff. If she could knock some sense into him, she would. She tries to help him but Joxer won't allow it. Gabrielle retaliates by constantly insulting him. "Why do I feel like killing him?" she asks Xena. (TEN LITTLE WARLORDS, #32)

    [31] RESPONSE(seems strange that Gabrielle would act so uncharitable toward Joxer. The fact is that Joxer ignores her paternalism, and forces her to deal with him on his terms -- adult to adult. She would rather treat him as a child. Unfortunately, Gabrielle's attitude is another common one -- "PWDs need parents."


    [32] XENA: Xena has learned to respect him. She comforts an unhappy Joxer. "Aphrodite just used what was there. You may not be a swordsman, but you have a soul of a lion." (FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS)

    [33] RESPONSE: Xena is the rarest of people -- someone who understands Joxer without treating him as a child. She encourages him to pursue his own goals. Even with his limitations, she treats Joxer as an equal.


    She just inhaled my tongue!

    Joxer being smooched by Meg dressed as Princess Diana
    in WARRIOR...PRINCESS...TRAMP


    [34] MEG: Meg, the former tramp, seduces Joxer. She looks beyond his awkward behavior and see an attractive catch. Joxer warmly responds to her. When they part, she embraces him, "Lose them as quick as you can and double back. I'll leave the back door of the castle open for you." (WARRIOR...PRINCESS...TRAMP )

    [35] RESPONSE: PWDs are people with desires and wants. Meg saw Joxer as a man.



    FROM ZERO TO HERO


    "To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life."
    --Robert Louis Stevenson, who had tuberculosis and depression



    And this one's for picking on my haircut!

    Joxer under the power of Aphrodite's bell knocking the stuffing out of a bad guy
    in FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS


    [36] THE ZERO: FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS displays the range of relations between NDAs and PWDs. Gabrielle gives with one hand and takes with the other. Aphrodite casts a spell on Joxer to make him "suave and debonair." Xena comforts him.

    [37] Joxer's logic is ridiculed. Gabrielle and the others fail to understand is that his interior world is different. What makes sense to him is hilarious to them. For example, he walks backward to guard Gabrielle. He reasons how else, do you see who is coming from behind? Another example is Joxer's song. He sings his song to remember what he needs to know about being a warrior. Joxer's song helps him govern his chaotic mind.

    [38] When Joxer switches back and forth between himself and the "suave and debonair" Joxer, he becomes confused. He sobs, "I don't know who I am any more." Aphrodite's spell disrupted his ability to order his inner world.

    [39] Cranky Gabrielle, who is clever, has to rescue him. Unhappy and hurt, a defeated Joxer moans to Xena and Gabrielle, "I'm a big phony. I don't even rate sidekick. How I convinced myself that I ever could be, I don't know. Go ahead, have a good laugh at my expense."

    [40] In an aside, Gabrielle tells Xena, "Now that he sees the truth, he won't be so deluded." Xena replies, "Don't count on it." Gabrielle does not realize that Joxer has a disorder that affects his perception. Xena does understand, and knows how he has been mistreated. She sees a brave and loyal man, who has the soul of a lion.




    "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
    -- Theodore Roosevelt, who was asthmatic, blind in one eye, and manic-depressive



    That's gonna leave a mark

    Joxer and Callisto having a quiet moment
    in RETURN OF CALLISTO


    [41] THE HERO: In RETURN OF CALLISTO, Joxer races to save Xena and Gabrielle from Callisto. "I'm coming Xena!", he bellows as he charges Callisto's soldiers, who easily disarm him. Callisto laughs, "Whatever could you have been thinking?". Joxer gravely replies, "I came to save my friends." He diverts Callisto's attention to allow Xena to free herself.

    [42] In INTIMATE STRANGER, he protects Argo, Xena's horse, from being further harmed by Callisto. Xena praises him, "Thank you for trying to protect her. Only a man with a brave heart would stand up to Callisto for a horse."

    [43] In TEN LITTLE WARLORDS, Ares, now human, declares, "Without a sitting God of War, peaceful people have lost the discipline to control their anger. Those who learn to channel their anger become more focused." Xena remains focused, while Gabrielle boils over with rage. Joxer, however, is still Joxer, totally unaffected.

    [44] Standing on the gangplank of a boat filled with warlords, Joxer announces, "I heard you're looking for the world greatest warrior. Well here, I am!" While the other warlords are laughing, Xena creeps close to him and whispers, "Go guard the dock. You will be needed there." After pretending that he is afraid of her, Joxer leaves. Xena gives him a task that he could do, and that would fit his sense of warriorship. After Gabrielle steals a boat, Joxer cautions her, "Are you sure Xena wants you to be following her?" Since he is worried about Gabrielle, Joxer goes with her. He tires to calm a raging Gabrielle, with no success.

    [45] On the island, they encounter the Baracus. Gabrielle steals Joxer's sword and races to kill it. Ever resourceful, he grabs a stick and destroys the Baracus. Proudly, Joxer announces to Xena and Ares, "I am the New God of War. You may bow now." They simply stare at him. Joxer may not be the new god of war, but he displays the qualities of a warrior: courage, ingenuity, and perseverance.




    WHAT PEOPLE CAN LEARN FROM JOXER


    "He who, in the vale of obscurity, can brave adversity, can behave with tranquillity and indifference, is truly great."
    --- Oliver Goldsmith, THE DISABLED SOLDIER



    Hmmm, I think I need to adjust my joxer
strap

    Joxer, Gabrielle, and Xena giving fond adieu to Meg
    in WARRIOR...PRINCESS...TRAMP


    [46] Joxer lives an independent life, and takes responsibility for himself. He has a moral life. He may not be as adept as Gabrielle at fighting, but he is compassionate and loving. Joxer graciously accepts help from Xena but is not dependent on her. He brushes aside Gabrielle's paternalism because he is not a child who needs minding. He forces her to deal with him on his terms. Joxer's autism is as much as part of him as Gabrielle's code is a part of her.



    "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to chew on your socks?"
    --- Joxer, who has Asperger's Syndrome (HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS: WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN)




    FOR MORE INFORMATION


    Asperger's Syndrome: 299.80 of the DSM-IV: DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS IV

    WHEN YOU WORRY ABOUT THE CHILD YOU LOVE, Dr. Edward Hallowell

    http://www .ummed.edu/pub/o/ozbayrak/aspcrt.html