The
Representation of Disability
‘not
normal’
physically/mentally
seen
as an impairment of the body or mind caused by the loss or long term non
functioning of a physical , sensory or mental part or system.
Common
representations
Struggling
to overcome the impairment
Finding
a cure
Being
an object of pity
Being
a passive victim
Having
a chip on his or her shoulder and becoming an evil, aggressive avenger
This
view: ‘medical model’ of thinking
The ‘Medical
Model’
The ‘Social
Model’
This
‘social model’ is an alternative social model, which considers disability to be
the organisational, environmental, social and attitudinal barriers that prevent
people with impairments being included in mainstream society.
This
social model is rarely seen in moving image media, but disability charities are
campaigning for change and ‘ground breaking’ representations of disability
(within the social model) are on the increase.
Theorist:
R. Rieser
Freud
Psychoanalysis
Evans
(1998)
-
Disabled people are seen as childish, dependant and
underdeveloped
-
Punished by being excluded from ordinary life .
-
People who are imperfect, helpless, disgusting, shitty,
dribbling – a threat to rigid ego boundaries.
-
Strict rules of decorum involving standards of privacy,
decency and dignity effect representation.
-
Images of disability which cause unpleasure to the self
simply be representing that expelling as already complete.
-
We become literally alienated from (and cannot identify
with) the object/person we observe.
Stereotypes
There are ten main stereotypes of
disabled people (Barnes, 1992):
-
1. Pitiable and pathetic; sweet and innocent; a miracle cure
-
e.g. The Elephant Man
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2. Victim or object of violence
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e.g. Dr Al Robins - CSI
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3. Sinister of evil
-
e.g. Dr. No
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4. Atmosphere – a curios or exotica in ‘freak shows’, and in
comics, horror movies and science fiction
-
e.g.
-
5. ‘Super-crip’ / triumph over tradgedy / noble warrior
-
e.g. Xavier – X men
-
6. Laughable or the butt of jokes
-
e.g. Joe Swanson – Family Guy
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7. Having a chip on their shoulder / aggressive avenger
-
e.g.
-
8. A burden / outcast
-
e.g.
-
9. Non-sexual or incapable of a worth while relationship
-
e.g.
-
10. Incapable of fully participating in everyday life
How is
disability portrayed in the extract?
Mise-en-scene
The
way the mise-en-scene is used to portray disability in this extract shows that
the character with the disabilities tries to get his ordinary life back, but
has difficulties because of his appearance. He tries to get his old job back,
but the employers are not happy about having a worker with disabilities and
look at him as though he is a freak. This shows that people are treated
differently if they are disabled, look ‘different’ or are impaired in any way.
His disability in the extract is portrayed to make the viewer see the
difficulties of a disabled persons life and the struggles they go through in
life when they are not treated normally.
Camera
The
way the camera work is used to portray disability in this extract helps to show
the life of the disabled person and also the reactions of the people around him
by focusing on the face of the disabled man. When walking though the town in a
busy public area, he tries to hide his face as people stare at him as though he
is ‘different’. The camera work shows shots of the public reactions to him, as
well as his reactions to the way people are treating him. This shows that
people with disabilities are treated differently in society because they don’t
appear to be ‘normal’. The camera work helps to show the viewer the problems he
faces when people treat him as an outcast.
