Disability representation clip practice

Representations of disability

Representations of disability:

We live in a world of challenge and change.

This means we have to see the same challenge and change in front of us. 

What are the different representations of disability? Think of some characters on TV who are disabled…

·         “Ah, aren’t they sweet” patronising sympathy

·         Figures of fun: Elephant Man, The Undatables, XFactor/BGT

·         Admire

·         Interest: “What is wrong with them?”

 

It could be claimed that disability is more about tokenism and voyeurism that being about change, for example:

·         Matt Lucas in Little Britain

 

Challenging representations of disability:

·         Walt Jr, Breaking Bad

 

What to look out for:

·         Is the representation positive or negative?

·         Are they token characters? Is there more to the character than just the disability?

·         What focus is on them? Are they simply there in a supporting capacity?

·         Are they being slightly patronised? Are we made to feel sympathy for them?

 

But most importantly, how are they doing this?

 

Sound and editing

Editing:

Continuity Editing
This is done to create a clear seamless narrative that hides the editing process creating a sense of verisimilitude (the appearence of being true or real)

Types of editing shots:
Shot reverse shot
Action match/ match on action
Eyeline match
Matching the eyeline of who is in the scene
Graphic match
Two successive shots joined so as to create a strong similarity of compositional elements
Jump cut
Jumping from place to place whilst having conversation
Cross cutting
The camera will cut away from one action to another action
A cutaway
The interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else
Insert shot
A shot of part of a scene filmed from a different angle or focal length from the master shot

Transitions:
Dissolve
Wipe

Sound:
Diegetic/ non-diegetic sound

Sound effects:
Synchronous sounds
Sounds which are synchronised or matched with what is viewed
Asynchronous sounds
Not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen