Looking at Disability in the media.

Media coursework: disability

Disabled people are often stereotyped. A stereotype is an over simplified mental picture of a person or group. Stereotypes of disabled people are things such as; they should be pitied; they are receivers of charity; they are brave; ‘super crip’ or even aggressive and angry, an example of these stereotypes are put to use in Forrest Gump. It shows Lieutenant Dan as being bitter and having a chip on his shoulder; it also shows Forrest Gump as being like a super crip an extraordinary person who does marvelous things without meaning too. Stereotypes probably originate from feelings like fear; superiority; repulsion and pity. These feelings are likely to have been given through primary and secondary agents of socialization, i.e. parents, friends and the media. I have watched a film advertisement for multiple sclerosis, which has stereotypes within it; I will analyze it and write about any changes that could be made to estimate stereotypes

To make a film representation of an issue several elements are involved.

Firstly there is editing controls, what happens between shots, it helps control time and space and highlight similarities and differences between shots. In the multiple sclerosis advert editing is used to cut between a long shot of a woman, to an extreme close up of her eye, this shocks the audience holding their attention as well as showing the women’s pain.

Secondly camera shots decide on how you look at something, how far or near, from what angle and how the camera moves. In the advert, extreme close-ups are used to show the lady’s hand clenching some fabric; it has the effect of showing the audience she is in pain. A shot from the floor is also used, it has the effect of looking like it’s someone’s point of view. The camera also gives this effect when it pans around her.

You also have to consider the way the subjects are arranged in the frame, this is called the mise en ...

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You also have to consider the way the subjects are arranged in the frame, this is called the mise en scene. In the multiple sclerosis advert you see a large abandoned room which looks like it was once very grand almost Victorian with large decorative pillars, there is a lady sitting on something which is not visible because it is draped in material, she looks like she is modeling. She is naked but covered by the material. The picture is shown in black and white. The effect this has is that it seems like it’s in a horror movie, its dramatic and it gives a sense of fear, enforcing the feeling that provoke stereotypes.

Different moods can be created with lighting. In the advert the lighting comes in from the left creating shadows adding to the horror movie effect. .

Finally there is audio (sound). This includes dialogue, music and sound effects. This also changes moods. the advert uses both dialogue and sound effects, the voice over is deep and serious , the wording involves the audience drawing your attention, it uses shocking words which are also linked to image provoking guilt and fear, word such as ‘tearing apart’ and ‘ it strikes at random’ . Snapping and crackling sounds are heard which emphasize the pain the women is feeling there is also storm noises like wind adding to the dark atmosphere.

The advert represents people with ms as having no personality, bas being black and white, they are sad, ashamed, and in lots of pain. This ha the effects of making the audience feel fear, pity, guilt and sadness to make them give money

Lots of stereotypes are hit upon in the ms advert for representation of disabled people to improve in the media the following things must happen:

They must show disabled people as having complex personalities and having all the emotions. Just like everyone else disabled people have feelings that can be hurt from happy to sad, angry and mellow and so on.
Show them as equals giving as well as receiving. Disabled people don’t just receive charity they give to the community as well as receive.
Don’t present people with physical and mental characteristics that this determines their personality. Evil characters in cartoons often have disfigurements of some kind is this because people with disfigurements are evil, scary? No they’re not just because someone looks different does not make the person inside anymore evil than you or I
Don’t use them as objects of curiosity, make them ordinary. Disabled people are not placed on earth for entertainment. When walking down the street they don’t want to be stared at same as you wouldn’t.
Don’t joke about their disabilities or ridicule them. This is an appalling thing to do ridiculing someone because of the way they are is inhuman and unfair.
Don’t make them appear like victims or inflictors of violence.
Don’t give them super human abilities. I don’t have super crip abilities, I’m guessing you don’t so why should anyone else just because they have different physical and mental characteristics
Show the societal barriers that keep them from living a full live. Disabled people face more barriers in life then most people, barriers from prejudice to a door that can’t be opened, these should be highlighted and tried to be amended or solutions found.
Disabled people are not sexual; show them as having loving relationships and the same sexual needs and desires as someone who isn’t disabled.
Show them as being part of life in fictional and factual representation because they are part of life and this should be accepted.
Most importantly, train them, cast them and write them into scripts programmes and publication just like everyone else, this way disabled people can present themselves