Artifact Assignment LSJ 332 Fall 2007 M. Morris

Assignment Guidelines Turn in 3 essays (Oct 25, Nov 15, and Dec 6) Identify 1 artifact for each paper and address the following items: –Who produced the item and for what audience? –Where was it produced, where was it found? –What message about disability does it convey? –How does it fit into one (or more) of the models of disability?

What is an Artifact Anything in society that portrays disability in some way Examples: –Movies –TV shows –Articles –Books –Signs –Comics –Songs –Jokes

Example of an Artifact Movie 300

About the Artifact What is the artifact… –300 Who produced… –Frank Miller novel produced by Warner Brothers Where is it found… –Any video store near you Who is the audience… –General public

Movie Synopses Spartans are born warriors –Infants are examined at birth and if they are found to be undesirable, then they are cast off a cliff –Children are taught from a young age to be physically fit and to fight

King Xerxes of the Persians comes and threatens King Leonidas and the Spartans King Leonidas refuses to submit and seeks religious approval from the Ephors and the Oracle to go fight the Persians They do not give a blessing but King Leonidas takes off w/ 300 of the finest men

King Leonidas and the soldiers march to meet the Persians and camp out at a cliff A man who has a hunchback follows them and asks to join the army

Battle – bloody and gory –The Persians brought in “monsters” to fight King Xerxes brings in the man who has a hunchback and coaxes him to give up the Spartans by offering him women, money and power The man who has a hunchback gives up the Spartans and all 300 die

“300 white guys from a militarist eugenist sexist child-abusing society valiantly defend the narrow pass of Thermopylae against the progressive, racially, ethnically, ability and sexually diverse (albeit power-hungry) Persians in this gorgeously-filmed action-packed bloodfest.” –John on

Portrayal of people with disabilities –Eugenics –Ephors are viewed as greedy, dishonest, and perverse –Man with a hunchback is viewed as weak physically (can’t fight in battle) and weak morally (tempted by the enemy with women, money, and power) His weakness is what led to the defeat of the Spartans –Any Persian with any physical difference is viewed as a monster that needs to be contained unless fighting against an enemy

Message…? –Note: Think about who the potential audiences are ie: general public, teens, adults, persons with disabilities… Message of the Artifact

People w/ disabilities are –weak and do not have a place in society –unable to contribute constructively to society –morally corrupt –easily tempted by evil –can ruin a society

How does this fit into the models of disability discussed in class....? Remember the models… –Social –Personal tragedy –Moral –Medical Application of Models

Moral Medical

About the Assignment Two pages double spaced or one single spaced Remember your grammar! Place ALL of the required pieces into the essay

About the Assignment (cont) Use at least 3 of the models discussed in class across your 3 essays –You do not need to use all of the models, just the ones that apply to your artifact Think about the models in terms of the message(s) of the artifact There are PLENTY of artifacts out there –You must choose 3 different mediums (movie, article, etc.) for your 3 essays

Grading Criteria Grammar = 1 pt Who produced/who was the audience = 2 pt Where was it produced/found = 1 pt What message is being conveyed about disability = 3 pt How does it fit into one or more models of disability = 3 pt Total = 10 pt