The document discusses the stereotypical portrayal of characters with disabilities in TV dramas. Characters with physical or mental disabilities are often shown as outsiders who are unable to participate in everyday activities and are portrayed as weaker than able-bodied characters. Traditionally, villains in films were given disabilities to make them seem more frightening. While the direct association between disability and evil has declined, society still tends to link disability to weakness. When analyzing clips featuring disability issues, one should consider how disabilities and abilities are represented and the messages conveyed about disability.

1. PHYSICAL ABILITY/DISABILITY
TV Drama

2. Background
 Disability tends to still be represented in terms of stereotypical characters.
For example:
 Physically Disabled / Disfigured – often shown as outsiders, unable to do
normal things
 Mentally disabled – Often shown as strange, odd, childlike, outsiders
 Able Bodies / Minded – often shown as “normal” and “ideal”.

3. Stereotypes
Characters with disabilities are often portrayed in TV Dramas as
being outsiders, strange, unable to do everyday activities, immature,
weaker than “able bodied, able minded” characters, less attractive
etc. Traditionally in films, villains were often given a disability or
deformity to make them seem scarier or more evil. Although our
association of disability with “evil” has since declined, society often
still links disability to weakness and makes disabled characters
objects to pity.

4. Questions to consider:
If you get “disability” as an issue in the exam, you should be thinking about the following things when
watching the clip:
 Can I identify who is able / disabled in the clip?
 Are people with disabilities shown as different interests, personalities, attitudes, behaviours from
people who don’t have disabilities? If so, how?
 Is their disability represented as being important in their life?
 Are people without disabilities represented stereotypically as being normal / better / more
powerful? If so, how?
 Are people with disabilities represented stereotypically as being abnormal /weak/ pathetic? If so,
how?
 How do other characters in the clip treat the characters with disability?
 What is the message the clip is trying to portray about disability?
 Don’t ignore the able bodied characters as they need to be analysed too!

5. Characters

6. The Clip
Discuss the ways in which the
extract constructs the
representation of PHYSICAL
ABILITY/DISABILITY using the
following:
• Camera shots, angle,
movement and composition
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise-en-scene

7. YOUR Analysis
Words to include:
Camera shots, angle, movement and composition
Editing
Sound
Mise-en-scene