This document discusses representations of disabilities in media and explores common stereotypes. It provides examples of stereotypes like pitiable/pathetic, victim, sinister/evil, atmosphere/curio, super-crip/triumph over tragedy, laughable, vengeful, burden/outcast, non-sexual. Students are asked to identify examples that fit these stereotypes from their own media consumption and analyze a film clip representing disability.

1. To understand howdisabilities arerepresented in the mediaTo explore mediation of
those stereotypes
Learning Objective:

2. List…
• Mindmap or list all the different types
of disabilities you can think of.

3. Definition of disability
• a physical or mental condition that limits a
person's movements, senses, or activities.
• e.g.: Physically and mentally disabled,
Hearing impaired, Visually impaired, Short
term and long term disability, cognitive
disability…

4. Can you think of any recent
programs or films you have
watched that contain any
disabled characters?
How were they represented?

5. Make a note of the usual
stereotypes on the following
slides
• For homework (Due 18th
November) you
need to identify your own examples of
the usual disabled stereotypes and
explain why they fit that category.
• On Powerpoint or Word doc (images
needed for each character and program
or film name need to be included)

6. Pitiable and
pathetic; sweet
and innocent; a
miracle cure
The Elephant Man
Usual Stereotypes:

7. Victim or an
object of
violence
Whatever happened to Baby Jane?

8. Sinister or evil
Dr Strangelove

9. Atmosphere or
curio
e.g: 'freak shows',
and in comics,
horror movies and
science fiction

10. 'Super-crip'/
triumph over
tragedy/noble
warrior
Daredevil

11. Laughable or the butt
of jokes

12. Vengeful:
Having a chip on
their shoulder/
aggressive
avenger

13. A burden/ outcast
Mask

14. Born on the Fourth of July
Non-sexual or incapable
of a worthwhile
relationship

15. Often shown as incapable of fully
participating in everyday life
The absence of disabled people from
everyday situations, and not being
shown as integral and productive
members of society. When they are
shown, the focus is on their
impairments
Under- and mis-representation of
disability

16. In pairs: How would you represent them
using the micro elements?
• Physically disabled:
• Mentally disabled:

17. Are these typical
representations? Why?
What stereotype do
these characters
reinforce?

18. Are these typical
representations? Why?
Do these
representations show
any stereotypes? If so,
how?

19. Coming Down the Mountain
Watch the opening 2 minutes of the
film
• How is disability represented?
• Identify two micro elements of the
mediation process
• Write detailed notes on both
• Write at least 2 PEEs for each.
• Try to explain what disability
stereotype is portrayed in these first 2
minutes

20. SWAP answers
• Is their point accurate?
• Have they followed the PEE structure?
• Have they used lots of media terms?
• Have they linked their answer to the
area of representation?
• Have they written clearly?
• Give one mark for each – Will you score
5/5???