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124181 VK BEd 08b.3: VK Cultural Studies and Language Education (2025S)
Disability and Intersectionality in Media
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Mo 10.02.2025 00:00 to Mo 24.02.2025 12:00
- Deregistration possible until Mo 31.03.2025 23:59
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- N Tuesday 11.03. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 18.03. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 25.03. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 01.04. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 08.04. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 29.04. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 06.05. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 13.05. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 20.05. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 27.05. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 03.06. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 10.06. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 17.06. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
- Tuesday 24.06. 16:15 - 17:45 Helene-Richter-Saal UniCampus Hof 8 3G-EG-21
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
Regular attendance (max. 2 absences); class participation, a presentation of a theoretical concept (based on the class readings), a group presentation and minor tasks throughout the semester; a research proposal for the term paper, incl. annotated bibliography; BA students will either write a short seminar paper or a BEd thesis. MA students will write a longer seminar paper.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Class participation, and minor tasks throughout the semester (25%)
proposal and annotated bibliography, and presentations (25%)
BEd thesis or small research paper (50%)
You need to complete all requirements to complete the course.
The overall grading scheme is (1): 100-91%, (2): 90-81%, (3): 80-71%, (4): 70-60%, (5): 59-0%
proposal and annotated bibliography, and presentations (25%)
BEd thesis or small research paper (50%)
You need to complete all requirements to complete the course.
The overall grading scheme is (1): 100-91%, (2): 90-81%, (3): 80-71%, (4): 70-60%, (5): 59-0%
Examination topics
All students must present in class and participate in the class discussions and in group work. Everyone is welcome to use PPP to support their presentations, use Moodle apps, show video and audio examples, and bring printed materials.
Reading list
Bê, Ana. “Feminism and disability: A cartography of multiplicity,” in Watson, Nick and Simo Vehmas. Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies. Second Edition, Routledge, 2020, p. 421-436.
Ben Ayoun, Emma. “Cinemas of Isolation, Histories of Collectivity: Crip Camp and Disability Coalition: LeBrecht, Jim, and Nicole Newnham, Directors. Crip Camp . Produced by Good Gravy Films & Higher Ground Productions, 2020; Color, 106 Mins. Distribution: Netflix.” Visual Anthropology 35, no. 2 (March 15, 2022): 196–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/08949468.2022.2063675.
Ellis, Katie. “Changing representations of disability in children’s toys as popular culture,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 297-309.
Goodley, Dan. Disability Studies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction. Los Angeles / London / New Delhi: SAGE, 2011, p. 1-21.
Hunt, Xanthe. “Disability and sexuality,” in Watson, Nick and Simo Vehmas. Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies. Second Edition, Routledge, 2020, p. 436-452.
Kempe, Andy. “Beauty and the Beast: providing access to the theatre for children with autism,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 89-99.
Krebs, Nicholas D. “‘Krazy Kripples’ and the Transformative Body Politics of Disability and Race: Watching South Park in the Age of ‘Cancel Culture.’” Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, vol. 14, no. 3, 2020, pp. 301–16, https://doi.org/10.3828/jlcds.2020.19.
McRuer, Robert. “Compulsory Able-Bodiedness and Queer/Disabled Existence.” Disability Studies: Enabling the Humanities. Ed. Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Brenda Jo Brueggemann, and Sharon L. Snyder. New York: MLA Publications, 2002. 88-99.
Misener, Laura, Kerri Bodin, and Nancy Quinn. “Paralympics, para-sport bodies, and legacies of media representation,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 74-86.
Rieger, Janice and Megan Strickfaden. “Dis/ordered assemblages of disability in museums,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 48-61.
Stienstra, Deborah. “Race/ethnicity and disability studies: Towards an explicitly intersectional approach,” in Watson, Nick and Simo Vehmas. Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies. Second Edition, Routledge, 2020, p. 453-466.
Thorn, Jessey, “Ryan O'Connell on Netflix's 'Special,'” NPR, June 10, 2022, “https://www.npr.org/2022/06/09/1103950589/ryan-oconnell-on-netflixs-special
Ben Ayoun, Emma. “Cinemas of Isolation, Histories of Collectivity: Crip Camp and Disability Coalition: LeBrecht, Jim, and Nicole Newnham, Directors. Crip Camp . Produced by Good Gravy Films & Higher Ground Productions, 2020; Color, 106 Mins. Distribution: Netflix.” Visual Anthropology 35, no. 2 (March 15, 2022): 196–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/08949468.2022.2063675.
Ellis, Katie. “Changing representations of disability in children’s toys as popular culture,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 297-309.
Goodley, Dan. Disability Studies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction. Los Angeles / London / New Delhi: SAGE, 2011, p. 1-21.
Hunt, Xanthe. “Disability and sexuality,” in Watson, Nick and Simo Vehmas. Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies. Second Edition, Routledge, 2020, p. 436-452.
Kempe, Andy. “Beauty and the Beast: providing access to the theatre for children with autism,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 89-99.
Krebs, Nicholas D. “‘Krazy Kripples’ and the Transformative Body Politics of Disability and Race: Watching South Park in the Age of ‘Cancel Culture.’” Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, vol. 14, no. 3, 2020, pp. 301–16, https://doi.org/10.3828/jlcds.2020.19.
McRuer, Robert. “Compulsory Able-Bodiedness and Queer/Disabled Existence.” Disability Studies: Enabling the Humanities. Ed. Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Brenda Jo Brueggemann, and Sharon L. Snyder. New York: MLA Publications, 2002. 88-99.
Misener, Laura, Kerri Bodin, and Nancy Quinn. “Paralympics, para-sport bodies, and legacies of media representation,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 74-86.
Rieger, Janice and Megan Strickfaden. “Dis/ordered assemblages of disability in museums,” in Hadley, Bree, and Donna McDonald, eds. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Arts, Culture, and Media. 1st ed. New York: Routledge, 2018, p. 48-61.
Stienstra, Deborah. “Race/ethnicity and disability studies: Towards an explicitly intersectional approach,” in Watson, Nick and Simo Vehmas. Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies. Second Edition, Routledge, 2020, p. 453-466.
Thorn, Jessey, “Ryan O'Connell on Netflix's 'Special,'” NPR, June 10, 2022, “https://www.npr.org/2022/06/09/1103950589/ryan-oconnell-on-netflixs-special
Association in the course directory
Studium: BEd 046/407
Code/Modul: BEd 08b.3
Lehrinhalt: 12-4686
Code/Modul: BEd 08b.3
Lehrinhalt: 12-4686
Last modified: Mo 27.01.2025 12:45
Historically, people with disabilities have often been misrepresented or marginalized in popular culture. Stereotypical portrayals have perpetuated negative attitudes and discrimination and reinforced ableism. Movies, television shows, and other fiction have portrayed people with disabilities as pitiful victims, objects of tragedy, helpless and dependent on others, reinforcing the idea that disability is a burden. Additionally, people with disabilities have been portrayed as villains or monsters, and their disability has been used as a metaphor for evil or to instill fear in audiences. This has impaired their humanity and strengthened their prejudice.
Another general image is the story of the "superhero", and the character of the disabled is explained as an exciting hero who has won a handicap to help people who are not linked to persons with disabilities. Although these portrayals were intended to be inspirational, they often ignored the reality and complexities of disability: disability was used as a source of humor, and characters with disabilities were the subject of jokes and comedy. This has reinforced harmful stereotypes and perpetuated feelings of ablebodied/non-disabled superiority.
In recent years, however, there have been efforts to challenge problematic representations and promote positive and diverse portrayals of people with disabilities in popular culture. Movies and TV shows have begun to include more characters with disabilities in recent years. Movies like “The Theory of Everything” or “The Peanut Butter Falkon” and TV shows like "Speechless," "Breaking Bad," and “Switched at Birth” or “Special” feature complex characters with disabilities with interesting and non-stereotypical storylines. More opportunities have opened for disabled actors to portray characters with disabilities. In addition, online platforms and social media have provided a way for people with disabilities to bring attention to their experiences and advocate for inclusivity. People with disabilities can share their stories, challenges, and successes to raise awareness and promote understanding.
In this course, students will learn how to critically analyze historical and contemporary examples of disability storytelling in popular culture across a variety of media. We will discuss positive and negative representations of disability, explore different forms of disability storytelling, and examine approaches that aim to deconstruct heteronormative ablebodiedness and ableism.
Students will acquire important methodological tools and theories on disability on the intersection of gender, race and other vectors of oppression that will allow them to systematically analyze popular culture productions.
Students will be assisted in developing relevant research questions for their paper or BEd theses that use basic methodology and theoretical background.