This first unit on editing brought up many conflicting differences on how we write, view, and talk about disabilities. These conflicting differences arise between those with disabilities and those without over how we as a culture should talk about these issues. My presentation yesterday demonstrated how sensational media stories can influence the public's perception about how to view families living autism.
On my search to understand stereotypes of people with disabilities I came across a campaign that had gathered celebrity support - the Inclusion in the Arts & Media of People with Disabilities (I AM PWD). Shifting our attention from electronic and printed texts, they way we portray people with disabilities also plays a huge impact on our perception and the solidification of certain stereotypes about people with disabilities.
In this article the writer talks about the relevance for the need for a campaign like this in arts and media The article discusses a 2005 UCLA survey conducted by SAG, the results reported that "people with disabilities play fewer than 2 percent of characters on television, even though more than 20 percent of Americans live with a disability." Actor Ann Stocking points out the normal roles casted for people with disabilities "generally fallen into a narrow group of stereotypes: heroic fighters, pathetic victims, bitter narcissists or disfigured villains.These damaging stereotypes perpetuate the myth that disabled people are not complex and surprising human beings, but instead are less capable, less valuable members of society.”
Stocking later explained that "in reality, disabled people are just like everyone else.We’re mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, lovers, doctors, politicians, athletes, actors — as well as heroes and villains."
In this case, people with disabilities are trying to be seen. The celebrity spokes men and women are trying to relay the message that having a disabilities does not mean that there is this limitation for casting of specific roles in movies or on TV only. They want to build this critical mass of having more actors and actresses to be seen on TV or in movies to build stronger acceptance.
For the whole article follow this link: http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/10/06/hollywood-disability-rights-3394/
The website I actually collected the past article from was from a website run by a journalist who gathers information and news on issues on disabilities. (http://www.patriciaebauer.com/about/)
ReplyDeleteGood points here, Brandi. There is certainly a move within disability circles to promote de-emphasizing the disability in movies. But, I think, as a society in general (and I use that phrase reluctantly) we wonder at and about disability when we see it in film or TV (or anywhere else, I guess). When they see a character with a physical disability, some viewers might attempt to figure how that disability fits into the storyline, as if just having a character with a disability makes the movie or show about that disability.
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