Genie

This post is probably the one that will be the core of my film. The post is about Genie. Born in 1957, she was a victim of abuse, neglect,  and social isolation. Just 20 months old she was locked away by her father because he decided that she was mentally retarded.

She was found by social workers in 1970, 13 years after her father locked her away in isolation. Her father made sure her mother or her brother never talked to her or acknowledged she existed. After being arrested by police,  Clark Wiley shot himself.

She was then analysed by scientists, as brain study had only started around that period. They wanted to see if the theory of  human development and the human mind was correct. According to the theory, young people could only learn certain things at certain times, called critical periods. Language was one of these critical periods and according to the theory, Genie who at the time was a teenager, missed her chance forever.

 This case was so important for science that the government gave money to back the project At the age of 13 she was the size of a 6 year old, and was as much a feral child, as if she was brought up my wolves. This is should a heavy thing to review and research but it is something I need to do as my film will carry this same weight. There are a few documentaries made about Genie and I will watch them during the week.