In my media theory class, we have been looking at representations of different aspects of society and the world, such as how gender, class, sexuality and disability is represented in the media. For our media thriller, I think it is relevant to look closely at disability and different ways it is represented in the media, to make informed decisions on whether we want to represent it within our thriller. Here is some research that I have found out:
I visited various websites and read their articles on disability, one website informed me of the first televised plots featuring actors with a disability, and what these plots entailed. Within the British media there has been many shows such as Work at St. Dunstan's (1916) which was a TV programme giving viewers an exclusive look into a hostel for World War I soldiers who were blinded. This was one of the first programmes where disability was looked at in depth. Another programme showing disability was Fox Farm (1922) a silent feature that showed in depth the love between a blind farmer and a girl. This shows that the audience were aware of the issues with blindness and the hardships people with that disability faced from very early on in British media. Another documentary aired on British television highlighting disability was St Christopher (1967) which gave audiences an insight into Barney Platts-Mills' organisation that cared for children with many different disabilities around the UK. The programme A is for Autism (1992) gave audiences a strong perception and view into the lives of autistic individuals, highlighting the issue and encouraging viewers to recognize the disorder. A BAFTA award winning documentary called The Boy whose skin fell off (2004) showed the last few months of a Northumberland man that was born with a disabling skin condition, this showed the hardships he faced, and sparked a lot of interest and acclaim due to the award, for how the documentary showed his story.
Another article I looked at spoke of the Ricky Gervais sketch on popular TV show The Office encouraging employers to hire more disabled people, in a comical yet also serious way. Ricky - acting as a manager - is asked "would you hire a disabled person?" and immediately replies with "yes" something that most organisations answer when asked the question. However, quickly after Ricky begins to list the types of disabled people he couldn't hire, as they wouldn't be right for the job "Not dwarves. They can't reach stuff" and "Not blind. Dogs no good to you in here". Obviously poking fun at the pathetic discrimination of many companies who barely hire disabled people, it raised many eyebrows and praise, as Ricky spoke out for a wide group of people whose voices have clearly not been heard by employers. Nicky Clarke, a mum of two disabled children writes 'Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant produce projects which tackle our culture of discrimination and ignorance about difference. Their projects are imbued with a light touch and a sense of humour.' This shows that many people feel that a stand needs to be taken for those with disabilities, as they are cruelly dismissed from jobs that they are capable off, simply from the harsh discrimination which society seems to have.
When I questioned myself to think of disabled actors, one particular name stuck to mind; Warwick Davis. As he was included in Ricky Gervais' series An Idiot Abroad this further shows Ricky's passion to not underestimate or discriminate against people with disabilities. Warwick is best known for his role as an Ewok in the Star Wars films, as well as having various main roles in the Harry Potter phenomenon. Warwick was also, coincidentally, interviewed by Nicky Clarke - who I aforementioned - and had many views on disability and the media. When asked if he considered himself to be disabled Warwick said; 'There is a lot of other for me complications and sort of other issues related to me being short than just being short, and sometimes those things are debilitating in the fact that walking any distance is painful and things like that so in that side of things I do but I see being short also as being, it has enabled me to do everything I have ever done'. This shows that as a famous actor, and as Warwick is known for being short, he recognizes people may see his height as a disability however for him personally, it has led him to bigger opportunities. He made a fictional TV series called 'Lifes Too Short' with Ricky Gervais that focused on his height and disability within the media. I watched the making of the series to gain more of an insight into what the show was trying to achieve, and it focused a lot on the hardships that the character Warwick Davis, faced on his journey to fame. For example, after getting his big break in a show with Helena Bonham Carter, she begins to discriminate against him saying "I cant have its face staring at me" this shows the hardships that many disabled people face in society, not being treated as equals simply for their disability. Ricky Gervais says off the show 'I think people have already made their minds up before they've seen it that this is a cruel comedy because there's a...little person involved, so it has to be cruel.' The show illuminates the issues about societies prejudice for dwarves with one woman asking to take a picture of Warwick, then saying 'its funny isn't it...a dwarf carrying a box'
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