Comments on: Community http://cactussoup.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/community/ Pointed commentary -- in a tasty broth!!! Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:29:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Sara http://cactussoup.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/community/#comment-113 Sara Sat, 03 May 2008 13:21:06 +0000 http://cactussoup.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-113 Oh, yes. I, too, really, really long to see people with disabilities portraying people with disabilities. I also find it insulting -- always have, even when I was undeniably able-bodied myself -- when an able-bodied actor is chosen to put on a disability like a costume, as you said, just because s/he can, especially when there are many, many talented disabled actors no one knows largely because they're disabled. There was a cool discussion about this some months back over at Kay Olson's place. You might enjoy reading it. You really aren't alone in your desire. http://thegimpparade.blogspot.com/2007/05/movie-review-tiptoes.html Oh, yes. I, too, really, really long to see people with disabilities portraying people with disabilities. I also find it insulting — always have, even when I was undeniably able-bodied myself — when an able-bodied actor is chosen to put on a disability like a costume, as you said, just because s/he can, especially when there are many, many talented disabled actors no one knows largely because they’re disabled.

There was a cool discussion about this some months back over at Kay Olson’s place. You might enjoy reading it. You really aren’t alone in your desire.

http://thegimpparade.blogspot.com/2007/05/movie-review-tiptoes.html

]]> By: William http://cactussoup.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/community/#comment-108 William Sat, 03 May 2008 06:41:58 +0000 http://cactussoup.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-108 I find that I blame the media more often than most other people do. Most people would argue that a lack of media portrayals of disabled people is a result of a lack of respect for or awareness of disabled people in the public at large. But I believe that the media has a didactic role whether it accepts it or not (they don't own the electromagnetic spectrum; they are licensed to use it in "the public interest", and my definition of "public interest" is much more broad than theirs). I argue that the media should do more than simply ape the prejudices and blindnesses of the public at large, but should transcend them and try to show us (and in so doing, help us build) a better world. Not that the media is the only cause of the problem, by any means, but I think the media is the only actor that has the power to change anything. Unfortunately, it never will as long as ESPN remains the most profitable TV network in the history of mankind. I find that I blame the media more often than most other people do. Most people would argue that a lack of media portrayals of disabled people is a result of a lack of respect for or awareness of disabled people in the public at large. But I believe that the media has a didactic role whether it accepts it or not (they don’t own the electromagnetic spectrum; they are licensed to use it in “the public interest”, and my definition of “public interest” is much more broad than theirs). I argue that the media should do more than simply ape the prejudices and blindnesses of the public at large, but should transcend them and try to show us (and in so doing, help us build) a better world.

Not that the media is the only cause of the problem, by any means, but I think the media is the only actor that has the power to change anything. Unfortunately, it never will as long as ESPN remains the most profitable TV network in the history of mankind.

]]> By: rampracer http://cactussoup.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/community/#comment-99 rampracer Sat, 03 May 2008 03:36:09 +0000 http://cactussoup.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-99 Thanks for putting this up for BADD. I agree that attitudinal barriers and the perception of people with disabilities in the media/film still have a long way to go. I also think you're now part of the BADD community! Hope your cold gets better soon :) Thanks for putting this up for BADD. I agree that attitudinal barriers and the perception of people with disabilities in the media/film still have a long way to go.

I also think you’re now part of the BADD community!

Hope your cold gets better soon :)

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