Disability in tv drama.

A physical disability is a limitation on a person's physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or

stamina. There are also mental disorders which can cause a person to be labelled as disabled if it
prevents them from doing certain things.
People, regardless of their sex, that have a disability are seen to be weaker compared to able-bodied
people due to being unable to partake in everyday activities.
Reasons for stereotyping in the media could be down to the influence of the media. For example,
Shakespeare described the disabled as simplistic and crude. It seems that the stereotype for
beauty and normality does not include any room for variation, like being disabled. This isnt fair but
happens.
In 1991, Paul Hunt outlined the 10 stereotypes of disability in the media, these were:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Pitiable or pathetic,
An object of curiosity or violence,
Sinister or evil,
The super cripple,
Laughable,
As atmosphere,
His/her own worst enemy,
Burden,
Non-sexual,
Unable to participate in everyday life.

So overall it does not appear that the disabled are labelled kindly in the media and are prejudged as
to what their personalities are like and what they are capable of.
How disability is presented in the four areas of textual analysis.
Mise en scene.
I think that disabled people are often represented as snappy in TV dramas, however they see
themselves as able-bodied people, this is why they become angry when anyone doubts or pities
them. A line that you hear frequently from those in a wheel chair is just because Im in this chair, it
doesnt mean I And variations to end that sentence would be things like doesnt mean Im stupid,
doesnt mean I cant do it, or doesnt mean Im helpless or crippled.
Other types of disability like mental disorders can either be shown in a comedy kind of way, like in
the programme Derek. He is shown to be fairly nave and oblivious to most of the world around him,
spending all his days in a care home, he hasnt seen much, and hes shown to have a caring heart to
stay there and help the elderly but this could be because hes reliant on that place to take care of
him. It is not focused on, Dereks disability, but it causes laughter and sometimes pity as he seems so
sweet.

Usually camera shots on disabled people in wheelchairs would be close ups, but far out enough for
their chair to be insight, as if to make out that their wheelchair is a big part of and shapes their
character and also makes them memorable. In my opinion, viewers of a programme would say
things like Izzy, the one in the wheelchair when speaking of the latest events on Coronation Street,
this almost sounds like they are saying that the wheelchair defines them and is the most obvious
thing about them.
How disability links to other areas of representation.
Age- When it comes to age, I would say it is more expected and unnoticed when an elderly person is
disabled on a television programme, usually because it is age that has done it to them, rather than
an event or inheritance. A middle aged person with a mental illness is often represented as very
different to all of the other characters, shown on their own often, being upset. So I would say they
are represented often as being in their own world compared to everybody else, and their disability
doesnt go unnoticed, by viewers or other characters.
Gender- I believe that men and women are shown slightly different when disabled in tv dramas. This
is a negative thing as it does not show gender equality. An example is that Jean from Eastenders, she
had the mental illness, bipolar and was seen and treated as crazy. Whereas, men with bipolar on
television programmes are less common, I could not find any during my research. I found many men
with a disability causing them to be in a wheelchair.
ClassSexualityRaceDisabilityExamples.
This is the boy from the Inbetweeners, in the fashion show episode, who is a student in a
wheelchair. Some of his lines are I can walk you know, I just get tired easily.
This supports my mise en scene of disabled characters on the television. He
then goes on to argue with Will, and even try to attack him, showing he sees
himself as completely able, like Will, but is insecure that Will and others find
his disability amusing.

Jackies grandpa, on the childrens television programme, Tracy Beaker, resents being in a
wheelchair. He has a sad expression on his face, the majority of the time, and often says how much
he hates this situation. He used to be a runner so would
much rather get out of the chair and run, so he has goals
and dislikes being restricted from doing as he wishes. He
is old, and due to being frail, Jackie often appears older

than him when she has to reassure him, despite being his
granddaughter. This shows that he is also insecure.
These characters are shown in a well-known scene from the
Inbetweeners. It is where the boys are playing with a Frisbee at the
park, and they very unfortunately hit the girl, on the left, in the face
with the Frisbee. This is extremely humorous to viewers due to the
sheer bad luck of it and the fact that it is Will. And of course his
reaction. It is also funny to see Neil even ask for his Frisbee back. So
this supports my point about Derek, how it is funny because the
viewers feel bad and are amused by the circumstances. I would not
say that anybody would be directly laughing at the lady in the
wheelchair because of her disability, possibly more her disability
causing her amusing reaction, and the fact she is disabled makes the boys feel even worse for
hurting her. So they see her as helpless or dumb.