Media Representation of Disability

Running head: MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY
MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY
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Introduction
Disability in person has to undergo discrimination from society because of their poor
standard of living and illness. The misconception about disables people is related to media and
the way they show the issue. The thought of society regarding disability is reproduced through
media, books, television, advertising and films, which is leaving a negative impact on society.
Therefore, the main aim of the paper is to critically analyze the media representation of disability
in the form of the movie My Left Foot. The paper has shown how the film had put its
contribution to display impairment in person by showing a disable people in a courageous and
empowered manner. The paper has highlighted the background of the issue and media, role of
media and critical analysis of media form. The paper moreover focus on the analysis of how the
film has influenced the view of society towards disability and how it has evolved towards
improvement to change stereotypes related to disability.
Background and history of media and disability
Globally, around more than 1 million people are facing an issue of disability, which has
impacted their life in an adverse way (Schalock, 2017). In developed as well as developing
countries, research says that person with a disability is portrayed in a disproportionate way
among the poor peoples as compared to wealthy individual. People with some disability undergo
discrimination from society, and it breaches the dignity and right of the human being. However,
currently, many countries are bonded with some legal policy and law regarding the right to
disable people. The law emphasis on giving empowerment to those people to live a better quality
life. It is evident from the study that media play significant role in displaying both negative and

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positive image of the disable people which has great impact on the people’s perspective (Barton,
2017).
Media Stereotypes of Disability
Media format in the form of film display stereotype of disables people. Firstly, the
disabled people are treated as a pitiable and pathetic person and this increase the potential of
rising the charitable fund. Secondly, disable people are prone to violence. According to Wood
(2017), Media, along with its different format, tends to represent disability as an object of
vulnerability. However, it is opposed by the finding of Brittain (2017) and stated that film is that
type of media which display the disability in a positive way. There are many realistic movies
such as coming home, Children of a Lesser God and My Left Foot, which has left a positive
impact on the society. The challenge to representation of disability by the media is the potential
to sink into the old and worn stereotype
Role of media in representation of disability
Media play a very influential role in reflecting the opinion of people regarding disability.
It is evident from the study of Goethals, Mortelmans, Van Hove (2018) that media generally do
cover the people with disability and they try to showcase the issue, however, it has faced many
challenges regarding this. The film My Left Foot has given new meaning and insight into the
disability. Media in the form of the film has significant power to change the perspective of
peoples. They hunt many stereotypes related to disability. It is the critical tool of person
everyday life and crucial in the broadcasting information to the population. Through media,
people see, observe, hear and read and take the issue in that way as it is showed in the film.
Media is such a powerful tool in creating awareness, spreading information and countering