Semantically, the word "disabled" causes much debate. The 'dis' suffix is a negative one, implying reversal, and disabled heads a list in the dictionary of many negative words - disappoint, discard, disconsolate, discourage, disintegrate, dismay, disrepute etc etc. That same dictionary defines the word "disabled" as meaning "Made ineffective, unfit or incapable". Quite rightly, those members of the population who find themselves labelled thus feel tarred with a distasteful brush. The word implies that they are unfit for anything, that they are incapable of effectiveness in any field. Verbal codes aside, the iconography surrounding the word suggests a similar plight, hence the European Union symbol:
Given the semiotics of the situation, it is small wonder that media representation of the disabled is limited and laregely stereotypical. if the word "disabled" can be represented in such a simple symbol as the one above, we are reducing a large and diverse group of human beings to something less complicated than your average roadsign. While great strides have been made in recent decades in the representation of gender and race, there are still many prejudices attached to the representation of disability.
Or difability - the differently enabled, as our PC friends would have us speak.
Images of the Dis/Difabled
In magazines, the only images of the disabled we tend to see are those in charity advertisements, and their disablity is the main focus of the representation. Often we are encouraged to pity the person represented, or give them support in another way. Ideologically speaking, dis/difabled is not considered sexy, and does not sell stuff. More power then to Benetton, with their use of a Downs Syndrome model.
Disabled sport is seen as a very poor relation to its so-called able bodied counterpart. The Paralympics receive a derisory level of coverage (and, oddly enough, sponsorship... hmmm) but you can check out their website here.
Likewise in the movies, disability is seen as a great storyline - one to inspire pity in audiences and Oscar nominations from your peers. Think Tom Cruise in Born On The Fourth of July (Best Actor nom, Best Director win), Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind(Best Actor nom, Best Picture win), Leonardo di Caprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Best Supporting Actor nom) and Audrey Hepburn in Wait until Dark (Best Actress nom). These actors are applauded for their fine performances, as though the representation of disability were a particularly dangerous and skilful thing. While Tom Cruise is prepared to strap himself into a stunt wheelchair, genuinely dis/difabled actors do not get major parts. Amputees get good work in Hollywood as stunt persons, particularly when a film such as AI needs limbless people to attach prosthetics to, but their name is never going to go on the marquee. This is fundamentally wrong - we can only accept the beautiful people pretending to be incapacitated. Is this the equivalent of white actors 'blacking up' to play Othello?
Yet there are exceptions: stand up comedian, actor and model Francesca Martinez suffers from cerebral palsy but sees no reason why she should not follow a career in showbiz. A successful actress, with several seasons of Grange Hill behind her, she has won awards for her comedy. Read an Observer interview with her here, and check out her profile on the Grange Hill site.
Timmy!
One of the most popular representations of disability on TV in recent years has been South Park's Timmy, the rebel in a wheelchair. DVDs featuring Timmy-based episodes sell well, as does the Timmy plush doll (featuring a detachable wheelchair). Timmy suffers from hydrocephalus, is misdiagnosed as having ADD, and is only able to say one or two words (initially, just his own name, but he graduates to being able to utter the name of his beloved pet turkey - Gobbles).Timmy's Home Page (Unofficial)
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