A critical disability studies analysis of the notion of heroes, villains and fools
More biographical accounts needed in
disability studies which document daily ‘routine’ activities of disabled people to
challenge binary thinking – good vs evil etc.
Steer far away from medical/individual
definitions of disability.
Substantively concerned with examining
social aspects of disability.
Made a definite distinction between
impairment (biological deviation from the ‘norm’ and disability (unnecessary isolation and exclusion imposed on top of
impairment).
Conflation of impairment and disability led
to stereotyping:
Disabled people often seen as villains,
heroes or fools.
Disabled ‘heroes’ – ‘The musical genius’
26-year-old blind, autistic man. He has an IQ
equivalent to that of a four-year-old. His musical talent is seen as a ‘miracle’. The attention of the viewer is diverted away
from engaging with the complexities of his life, and encouraged to view him simply
through his ‘musical genius’.
Disabled ‘villains’ – Dr No (James bond)
Portrayal of disabled people as sinister,
twisted and evil. Once again, the stereotyped version of disability is portrayed.
Disabled ‘fool’ – Forest Gump
A man with a lower than average IQ is the
focus of the film. This is not necessarily
problematic but the fact that the audiences attention is drawn to his (lack of)
intelligence is unfortunate.
Seeks to engage with the ‘fleshy’ reality of
the body.
The removal of a causal link between
impairment and disability is less of an issue.
What does it mean to have an impaired
body?
In 2005, I am invited by a friend, to go
to the USA for a week to watch the
England football team play on a
summer tour. Our first destination is
to be Chicago, followed by New York
a few days later.
I am watching the second match of the tour which was played in New York, I take great delight in celebrating a comfortable English
victory with fellow supporters. All too soon, the game is over and it is time to leave the stadium. I am glad of the physical support that I gain
from my friend’s arm as we make our way out of the stadium along with several thousands of
excited Englishmen. As I am being swept along in the rush to exit the stadium, I realise that my greatest fear is ahead….. a descending
There is no way of avoiding this repetitive nightmare, as it would prove impossible to change direction whilst avoiding the people
surrounding me. I try to steady my gait a little and my grip on my friend’s arm becomes a little tighter. I reach out for the mobile stability of
the opening step with my right foot and manage to clumsily place my left foot alongside. I take a deep breath and my moment of physical
uncertainty is now largely behind me.
As I shuffle my feet into a more stable position ahead of the descending journey towards the car park below I hear a voice from behind me… “don't worry mate, I was ready to catch you
Highlights the social relations of (dis)ability
– the difficulties escalator’s can provide
Does not shy away from fleshy day-to day
difficulties of the lives of those that have impairment
Elucidates connections that can be made
with others
Continue the trend of the reality of
disability, and a description of the necessary link between impairment and disability.
Closer engagement with the reality of living
life with an impairment.
This can be achieved with a more
substantive engagement with narrative (biographical) accounts.
Highlights social and corporeal aspects of
disability.
Can be used to disrupt dominant discourses
of disability, which view it in binary terms.
Increase in the amount of narrative
accounts/stories which engage with the complexity of disabled people’s lives.
Reduction in the portrayal of disability in
polarised format eg villain, hero, fool.
Poststructualism - emphasises the fluidity
and relativity of identity.
Relevance to disabled people – the presence
of impairment does not remove possibility to show competence in many areas of life.
Narrative accounts which document the
complexity of people’s lives.
Challenge the notion of disability being
constantly seen in a melancholic light.
For example the use of labels by disabled
people - ADHD