Disabilities as “The Other”

Meaning of Disability Medical model of disability Social model of disability Socially constructed Role of popular culture Cultural definition vs. political definition (Kidd, 2004)

Pop Culture Representations - Film Isolation Norden: The Cinema of Isolation Character inhumane – separate from society Character as virus Character self-isolates Whittington-Walsh: 5 Tropes (Freaks) (1) Savant, (2) isolation and pathology, (3) self-sacrifice, (4) asexuality and dependence, (5) violence Snyder and Mitchell Comedies = faked impairment Horror = inborn monstrosity Melodrama = maimed capacity Science fiction/comic book films = acknowledges social definition Disability documentary film = giving a voice (Kidd, 2004)

Pop Culture Representations - TV Very limited portrayals Advertising (Ganahal and Arbuckle) Primetime Programming (Kidd) White, heterosexual (majority) Obesity = large amount of roles Identifying disability? Part of joke or treated sympathetically? More in RTV than dramas and sitcoms (Kidd, 2004)

Pop Culture Representations - Other Science fiction – mutants, cyborgs Music Fascination with form Rock music – freaks Seats at the production table Acting disabled Audience reception Sharing perspectives Role of the internet (Kidd, 2004)

Examples

Examples RTV: Born This Way Osh Kosh B’gosh Creating own media Special Olympics Talk Shows And another..