Disability and

Ability

Colin Barnes

• 10 stereotypes of disabled people in media:– Pitiable or pathetic– Object of curiosity or violence– Sinister or evil– The super cripple– As atmosphere– Laughable– His/her own worst enemy– Burden– Non-sexual– Unable to participate in daily life

• Most common stereotype

• Shown to be deserving ofpity when faced withdifficulty or prejudice

• Charity appeals have oftenused this representation

Pitiable or pathetic

Object or curiosity or violence

• Presenting people as unusual

• Disability is something to be viewed / observed

• Difference is highlighted and made a spectacle

• Puts disabled and non-disabled people in binary opposition when they are not

Super cripple

• Position of admiration despite disability

• Patronising in some ways – e.g. admiring attitude of people with disabilities

Humour

• Pleasure in the misfortune of others (schadenfreunde)

• Disability seen as source of humour since the Ancient Greeks

• Humour based on disability

• Or humour despite of it

Sinister or evil

• Scarring and disability as short cut for evil

• Scarring and disabilityoften used to signifyviolence or anger

• Joker / Freddy Krueger