Representation of Disability in TV Drama

1. AO1 – Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates, using terminology appropriately and with accurate and coherent written expression. AO2 – Apply knowledge and understanding to show how meanings are created when analysing media products and research. Aims: To evaluate your analysis of status and begin to consider the representation of disability in TV drama Monday 16thMarch 2015 AS G322: Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)

2. Unit G322: Key Media Concepts The examination is two hours (including 30 minutes for viewing and making notes on the moving image extract) and candidates are required to answer two compulsory questions. The unit is marked out of a total of 100, with each question marked out of 50. There are two sections to this paper: Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation (50 marks) Section B: Institutions and Audiences (50 marks)

3. The final stretch… • This week – 16th March • Next week – 23rd March (cinema trip/group social) EASTER • Monday 13th April • Monday 20th • Monday 27th • Monday 29th • Monday 4th May (bank holiday) • Monday 11th May • Monday 18th May - Friday 22nd May exam!!

4. AS exam Section A • Age • Class and status • Disability • Gender • Ethnicity • Regional Identity • Sexuality

5. Analysis of Downton Abbey • How does the extract represent class and status? You should: • Describe what happens using media terminology • Refer to at least two areas in each paragraph • Analyse the effect of the director’s choices on the audience • Evaluate how this contributes to the representation of class and status.

6. Example essay • Read the example answer and use the colour coding to help assess how good it is. • Terminology • Description • Analysis of effect • Representation Can you suggest what grade it might have been given?

7. Self assessment • On the top sheets, write an evaluation of how you found this essay. Can you explain what your target was last time and how you think you have improved? • Can you suggest what band you think you would be in based on what you have just read?

8. Disability on TV 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”. • There are four main stereotypes:

9. Exhibition • This is where the media presents people with disabilities as different or unusual, documentaries like The Undateables. Here disability is something to be viewed and observed; ‘difference’ is highlighted and made a spectacle. This representation puts disabled and non-disabled people in binary opposition when they are not. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkqQwWX4x-Q

10. Sympathy/pity By far the most common representation in the media. People with disabilities are often shown to be deserving of pity when they face difficulties or prejudice. TV dramas still use it as a short cut. Hollyoaks would be likely to feature a helpline at the end of the show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpP-z0-H7zI&feature=related

11. Fear • For a long time film makers have used scarring and disability as a short cut for evil. From Freddy Krueger’s burns to the Joker’s smile, scars can be used to signify violence or anger. • Think about Disney films – Scar in the Lion King and Captain Hook. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrIc1SlA7O8

12. Humour More unusual and would be an extreme case of schadenfreude (pleasure in the misfortune of others) this may seem politically incorrect, but disability has been a source of humour since the Ancient Greeks. There are subtle differences to look out for; is the humour based on the disability like Family Guy’s Joe or is the humour despite the disability? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joxoSfGWGxM

13. Disability on TV There was general agreement that to continue to portray disabled people as invisible or one-dimensional re-inforces the discrimination and isolation disabled people experience in all aspects of life. This can include becoming targets for bullying and physical attack. It was felt that children are particularly affected by the images to which they have access. Unfortunately most children and young people rarely meet disabled children in their schools and form their views of them mainly through the media. The inclusion of disabled people in producing and creating images and portrayal of disabled people as ‘real people’ is crucial. Andrea Stanton, BFI Media Teacher’s Conference 2009, reporting on the Invisible Children Conference.

14. Disability on TV 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.

15. Disability on TV If you get “disability” as a focus 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 having 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 sexuality? • Don’t ignore the able bodied characters as they need to be analysed too!

16. Disability on TV • Where have you seen disability represented on TV? • How were these characters represented? Spencer from Hollyoaks (learning disability) Lizzie from Emmerdale (deaf) Artie from Glee (wheelchair user) Stacey from EastEnders (bi-polar disorder) Jim from EastEnders (stroke victim)

17. Representation

18. Coming Down the Mountain How is the representation of disability constructed in the following extract? Draw the grid onto paper ready to make notes. Coming Down the Mountain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIcVhqcKukw&feature=related

19. Reviewing • Other examples of disability in TV drama that you can analyse for practise: Touch Of Frost http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gl8jVX9WWM Coming Down the Mountain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIcVhqcKukw&feature=related Hollyoaks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm9utEQTdts Cast Offs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em4Z0jfOExA A whole collection of film and TV clips that feature disability http://www.youtube.com/user/thsmediastudies#p/c/BBC935847FFC4878

20. Plenary • Write 10 top tips that you should remember to do in this section of the exam.