In the first lesson of the Disability in Cinema series, Professor Dolmage discusses the ways disabled characters are depicted in film. Compounding the lack of disabled characters in cinema, the few roles available are most often played by able-bodied actors, resulting in an inherent disability bias or ableist narrative. Professor Dolmage examines how disabled people are empowered or disempowered by cinematic representations, pointing out that filmmakers too often include one-dimensional disabled characters as a way to develop able-bodied characters’ personalities. He also draws parallels between the representation of disabled people and the representation of women and people of color in film.
In the first lesson of the Disability in Cinema series, Professor Dolmage discusses the ways disabled...
