The document discusses the representation of disability in the TV show Skins. It focuses on the character JJ, who has a mild form of autism. While Skins attempts to challenge stereotypes of disabled people, cues like camera angles, positioning in shots, and how other characters speak to JJ in a childlike way indicate he is different. Overall, the document analyzes how Skins represents disability through techniques like mise-en-scène and sound design, seeking to integrate the character while acknowledging his differences.

1. Representation Of Disability.

2. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew-QPBFcuPs

3. Representation Of Disability in Skins
What is Skins?
Skins is a UK TV Teen drama that focuses on the lives of a group of 17-18 year
old friends. Although the series may exaggerate some aspects of the current
generation of teenagers it touches on various issues they have to deal with in
real life. Issues covered are, Sex, Drugs, Depression, Break ups, Anorexia,
Bulimia, death and many other problems.
There have been 6 series so far with the cast being changed every two series
meaning there have been 3 generations. The clip that I will be focusing on is a
clip from the third series of skins. It revolves around four friends hanging out in
a garage with one of the friends that has autism. The way he is treated and
spoken to by the other characters shows us he is disabled is some sort of way.
Although this does not make it 100% the way the scene is filmed and set does.

4. Stereotypes of Disabled People
In the media you will find that people with disabilities are usually stereotyped
in different ways. I have researched the different stereotypical categorisations
of disabled people and picked the ones that stand out the most.
Not Normal Incapable
Damaged Dependent
Sick Unable To Support Others
Weak Chip On Shoulder
Odd Angry
Dumb Bitter
Stupid Unattractive
Useless Lonesome
Helpless Lazy
Skins attempts to challenge these stereotypes but it does not completely get
rid of some of the things above.

5. Character in question
The character we are looking at in this
scene is the character of JJ. JJ has a mild
form of autism which effects the way he
interacts and talks to people. Like all
autistic people JJ has a special talent.
His is Magic.
He is very witty and careful. In the
scene I am concentrating on he carefully
plants a fire breathing magic trick. He is
filmed and talked to by other characters
in a different way to make us realise
there is something different about him.

6. Representation Of Disability in Skins
Camera Angles
JJ, the character that is disabled in the scene is filmed differently. The camera is
positioned so it is looking up to JJ and the when it turns to the rest of the
people in the room it is slightly looking down on them. This gives the emphasis
that there is something different or important about JJ.
However, I do not think that the camera angles say everything about JJ to the
audience.
It is more the positioning of the character in the frame of the camera that
singles out his difference to the rest of the characters. This leads us to talk
about the Mis En Scene of the clip..

7. Representation Of Disability in Skins
Mis En Scene
When we look at the Mis En Scene of the
clip we can automatically look at the
appearance of JJ. He leaves his hair to grow
into an afro like style telling us that he
perhaps doesn’t really care much about his
hair.
This along with his positioning within the
shot contributes towards telling us that he
is different from the other characters. He is
sat on his own the furthest away in the
room and he is sat slightly higher then them
all. This says to me that he is different.
We can also look at the way he is dressed.
He is dressed as casual as the rest of the
group making him seem to fit in. This is
contributing to the challenge of the stereo
typing of disability.

8. Representation Of Disability in Skins
Sound
We can see a lot from the way JJ is referred and talk to within the scene. We can also
see it from the way he talks himself. They speak and refer to him in a child like manor.
At the end of the clip Cook refers to JJ as having ‘a better chance’ then Freddie with
the girl Effy. This tells us that Cook thinks JJ is of a lower status then the rest of the
characters in the scene.
When Cook offers to have sex with Effy she tells him that she would sooner have sex
with JJ. To me this is not meant to be a compliment towards JJ but an insult to Cook.
This shows us that Effy views JJ as a lower member of the group.
The way JJ reacts to Effy’s statement shows us that he knows he views himself to be
lower than the rest of the males in the room as he says that he takes the insult to cook
as compliment to him.
We can also see he is very child like when he refers to the other characters. He refers
to the character of Freddy as ‘Freddy Brek’. As a play on words to ‘Ready Brek’. We can
see this as very childlike.

9. Representation Of Disability in Skins
Conclusion
In conclusion Skins attempts to challenge the stereotypes of disability. It does this by
presenting JJ in a cool way in a good group friends. However, we still know he is
disabled or different. This is because of how the character of JJ is presented though
Mis En Scene and the use of camera positioning and sound.
He is slightly separated from the group whilst looking to be a part of it. This is mainly
done through the writing of the script. The way the characters talk to JJ is different.
They treat him in a child like way, not because they are nasty to but because he is very
child like in manor and this is their reaction as friends towards him.
I think Skins deals with disability in a very good way. It integrates JJ into the friend
group and challenges the stereotypes of disabled people being ‘angry’, ‘bitter’ and
‘useless’.
Thank you For Watching