Media Representations of Disability

Question 1

what are the two models of disability

Answer 1

medical model
social model

Question 2

what is the medical model of disability

Answer 2

disability is inherent and often involves medical intervention as a sort of cure or normalisation of disabled people

Question 3

what is the social model of disability

Answer 3

impairments are a physical or mental state everyone has , disability is a social construct and people are disabled by society failing to accommodate impairments of certain people and discriminatory

Question 4

who is the main theorist for media rep of disability

Answer 4

Barnes

Question 5

what did Barnes find

Answer 5

-6 recurring media rep of disabled ppl:
-pitiable/pathetic
-sinister or evil
-atmospheric or curio
-super cripples
-sexually abnormal
-incapable of participating in community life

Question 6

describe the pitiable /pathetic stereotype with examples

Answer 6

staple of television documentaries usually children looking for miracle cures
eg Tiny Tim and Children in Need

Question 7

describe the sinister or evil stereotype with examples

Answer 7

-criminals or monsters eg James Bond villains physically deformed

Question 8

describe the atmospheric/curio stereotype with examples

Answer 8

-fascinations to able bodied audiences to enhance visual impact of productions eg the Goonies

Question 9

describe the super cripples stereotype with examples

Answer 9

-where disabled people can overcome impairments in a sensational and heroic way
eg The Theory of Everything, Toph from TLAvatar and the Paralympics coverage

Question 10

describe the sexually abnormal stereotype with examples

Answer 10

-not shown to have sexual feelings or are sexually degenerate
-Hunchback of Notre Dame or the Undateablss

Question 11

describe the incapable of participating in community life stereotype with examples

Answer 11

rarely shown as integral/ productive members of community eg students, teachers, parents

Question 12

who argues that charities such as Children in Need promote disability stereotypes and why

Answer 12

Roper ; they rely on stereotypical cute children and entertain audiences rather than educate them, disability are grateful recipients dependant on charities which confirms social prejudice

Question 13

who argues media rep of disability is inadequate and why

Answer 13

Shakespeare; typically reinforce negative attitudes towards disabled people and are one dimensional

Question 14

who studied media rep of disability and what did they find

Answer 14

Watson et al; articles focusing on disability benefit and fraud tripled between 2005-2011 which showed significant increase in negative portrayals of people with disabilities as undeserving

Question 15

what do pluralists argue about disabled rep

Answer 15

-they reflect dominant medical view of disability
-mirrors social anxieties about impairment
-reflects social admiration of courageous individuals therefore representative of daily life

Question 16

what do sociologists who believe in the social model of disability argue (Oliver and Barnes and Mercer)

Answer 16

-medical professionals set agenda for disabled rep and assume their experience with an impairment as unfortunate and tragic
-media represents prejudice against disabled people
-negative representations represent oppressive dominant view

Question 17

what do postmodernists argue about media rep

Answer 17

-evergine can construct their own identity and there is more media rep than ever

Question 18

what postmodernist critiques other postmodernist arguments

Answer 18

-Gauntlett points out that media rep on TV may have improved but not in the news and tabloids

Question 19

what do marxists argue about media rep

Answer 19

disabled people are negatively stereotypes because they are viewed as dependant and unproductive not contributing to economy