The document summarizes Paul Hunt's analysis of common stereotypes of disabled people in media from 1991, which identifies 10 stereotypes: pitiable or pathetic, object of curiosity or violence, sinister or evil, super cripple, as atmosphere, laughable, their own worst enemy, burden, non-sexual, and unable to participate in daily life. It provides further explanation and examples of some of the most common stereotypes such as the pitiable or pathetic stereotype being used in charity appeals, and the object of curiosity stereotype highlighting difference and making disability into a spectacle.

1. Disability
and
Ability

2. Paul Hunt (1991)
• 10 stereotypes of
disabled people in media:
– Pitiable or pathetic
– Object of curiosity or violence
– Sinister or evil
– The super cripple
– As atmosphere
– Laughable
– His/her own worst enemy
– Burden
– Non-sexual
– Unable to participate in daily life

3. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Pitiable or pathetic
– Most common stereotype
– Shown to be deserving of
pity when faced with
difficulty or prejudice
– Charity appeals have often
used this representation
– TV dramas still use it as
a shortcut

4. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Object of curiosity or
violence
– Presenting people as
unusual
– Disability is something
to be viewed / observed
– Difference is highlighted
and made a spectacle
– Puts disabled and
non-disabled people in
binary opposition when
they are not

5. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Super cripple
– Position of admiration despite disability
– Patronising in some ways – e.g. admiring attitude
of people with disabilities

6. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Humour
– Pleasure in the misfortune of others
(schadenfreunde)
– Disability seen as source of
humour since the Ancient Greeks
– Humour based on disability
– Or humour despite of it

7. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Sinister or evil
– Scarring and disability
as short cut for evil
– Scarring and disability
often used to signify
violence or anger
– Joker / Freddy Krueger