disability imagery: a bastion of social change€¦ · inspiration porn close but not quite...

DisabilityImagery:ABastionofSocialChangeFaithPerez,ReneeStronach,withstudentsinDIS450,FacultyMentors:LizDePoyandStephenGilson

180SubmissionNo.

Introduction:Inthevisualandmaterialcultureofthe21st century,imageispower.Thisinquiryusedthematicanalysistoexaminethemeaningsofdisabilityimageryonacontinuumfromtragedytoaninevitableandcelebratedpartofhumandiversityandprovocateurofsocialchange. Fivethemesemerged:disabilityastragic(exclusion,isolation,fear);disabilityasinspirationporn(disabledpeoplearebraveorspecialjustforliving);closebutnotquite(somepositiveimagerysegregationandimpairmentareforegrounded);andcelebrationofdisabilityashumandiversity(thegoalforchange).

2017UniversityofMaineStudentSymposium:Research&CreativeActivity,CrossInsuranceCenter,BangorME,April24th,2017

Tragedy

Inspirationporn

Closebutnotquite Celebrationofdisabilityashumandiversity

#disabledandcute

AlisonLapperMillionDollarBaby

AsherNash

Locusofsocialchange-imagerythatintegratesdisabilityintothefabricofhumanactivity,contexts,beauty,messiness,dailylife.

Fashion

Disabilityassport