BSA Auto biography conference 2012
A critical disability studies analysis of
the notion of heroes, villains and fools
Jonathan Harvey
The Open University
[email protected]
Introduction
More biographical accounts needed in
disability studies which document daily
‘routine’ activities of disabled people to
challenge binary thinking – good vs evil etc.
Historical disability
research
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).
Imagery of disabled people
Conflation of impairment and disability led
to stereotyping:
Disabled people often seen as villains,
heroes or fools.
Examples of stereotyping
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’.
Examples of stereotyping
Disabled ‘villains’ – Dr No (James bond)
Portrayal of disabled people as sinister,
twisted and evil. Once again, the
stereotyped version of disability is
portrayed.
Examples of stereotyping
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.
Contemporary disability
research
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?
My own experience
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
escalator! Not a huge obstacle for many, I
accept. However, I avoid these things at all
times. I think it must be their mechanical
predictability that does not compliment my
unsteady and at times unpredictable gait.
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
anyway!”
Analysis
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
Contemporary and future
disability research
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.
The role of narrative in
Disability research
Highlights social and corporeal aspects of
disability.
Can be used to disrupt dominant discourses
of disability, which view it in binary terms.
Implications for media portrayal
of disability
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.
Possible future directions for
disability research
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.
Possible future directions for
disability research
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
the notion of heroes, villains and fools
Jonathan Harvey
The Open University
[email protected]
Introduction
More biographical accounts needed in
disability studies which document daily
‘routine’ activities of disabled people to
challenge binary thinking – good vs evil etc.
Historical disability
research
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).
Imagery of disabled people
Conflation of impairment and disability led
to stereotyping:
Disabled people often seen as villains,
heroes or fools.
Examples of stereotyping
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’.
Examples of stereotyping
Disabled ‘villains’ – Dr No (James bond)
Portrayal of disabled people as sinister,
twisted and evil. Once again, the
stereotyped version of disability is
portrayed.
Examples of stereotyping
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.
Contemporary disability
research
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?
My own experience
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
escalator! Not a huge obstacle for many, I
accept. However, I avoid these things at all
times. I think it must be their mechanical
predictability that does not compliment my
unsteady and at times unpredictable gait.
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
anyway!”
Analysis
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
Contemporary and future
disability research
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.
The role of narrative in
Disability research
Highlights social and corporeal aspects of
disability.
Can be used to disrupt dominant discourses
of disability, which view it in binary terms.
Implications for media portrayal
of disability
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.
Possible future directions for
disability research
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.
Possible future directions for
disability research
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