This is a very interesting and thought-provoking article by political theorist Johnson (B.J.Pol.S. 41, 621–643 Copyright Cambridge University Press, 2011) that looks at the incoherent notion of politics of compassion, picking up where Campbell left off. The basic idea is that compassion is related to individual suffering, and as such cannot be translated into a call for political action. Continue reading “James Johnson, ‘The Arithmetic of Compassion’: Rethinking the Politics of Photography”
Author: carlwhetham
Paul Slovic, “If I look at the mass I will never act”: Psychic numbing and genocide
This paper (published in Judgment and Decision Making, Vol. 2, No. 2, April 2007, pp. 79–95) in a sense repeats many of the ideas expressed by Campbell and Johnson (indeed, both those authors refer to Slovic’s work in their articles. He comes at the topic not from a political or cultural point of view, but from the science of psychology. Continue reading “Paul Slovic, “If I look at the mass I will never act”: Psychic numbing and genocide”
Zbigniew Herbert, Mr. Cogito
While I was looking up the poem about Mr Cogito reading the newspaper, I came across this poem of Zbigniew’s, which says a lot about disability and suffering in general: Continue reading “Zbigniew Herbert, Mr. Cogito”
Disability Studies Conclusion
Although there are certain groups of disabled people (particularly the more radical and activist groups like Wry Crips) whose model for inclusion is rooted in identity politics, demanding respect as being different rather than in spite of one’s differences (Kruks, 2001, p 85), the bulk of disability discourse revolves around the idea that disability is socially constructed (Davis, Siebers, Shogan). Continue reading “Disability Studies Conclusion”
Research on disability – goals
This part of my research will focus on disability and how it is represented in the media and elsewhere. I will look into disability studies to help me with terminology and an understanding of the general issues arising in disability discourse, as well as looking at some disabled artists to get an idea of how they are representing themselves. The goal is to reach a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding disability in order to avoid misrepresenting disabled persons, as well as to inform myself about how disabled persons themselves wish to be perceived (obtaining such information can enable me to more effectively empower my subjects).
Stigma and social attitudes
“When the dominant culture defines some groups as different, as the Other, the members of these groups are imprisoned in their bodies. Dominant discourse defines them in terms of bodily characteristics and constructs those bodies as ugly, dirty, defiled, impure, contaminated or sick” (Iris Young, quoted in Sibley 1995, p 18)
“It is always possible to bind together a considerable number of people in love, so long as there are other people left over to receive the manifestations of their aggressiveness.” (Freud 1962, p 61) Continue reading “Stigma and social attitudes”
Psychological effects of disability
“Dealing with anger, self-loathing and daily experiences of rejection and humiliation are among the hardest aspects of being a disabled person.” (Shakespeare et al, 1996 p 42)
The psychological effects of disability are considered some of the most difficult to cope with. Not only does the individual have to deal with the impairment itself (often this is something that has come about, since as Siebers (2001) has indicated, only 15% of disabled people are born with their impairments), but there are also the stigmatizing effects of society, which includes the attitudes of those family and friends, colleagues and health professionals in direct contact with the individual (often this is compounded with the individual’s own negative stereotypes of disability that had been formed prior to the onset of disability). Continue reading “Psychological effects of disability”
Disability and identity politics
Identity politics is a general idea that some groups are oppressed within society, or more specifically, that one’s identity makes one more vulnerable to discrimination, exploitation, marginalisation, even violence. This would seem to be particularly relevant to the disabled body and issues surrounding the social construction of disability coupled with the hegemonic myth of normalcy. Continue reading “Disability and identity politics”
Disabled identity
One of the problems associated with disability is the fact that the impairment becomes the primary focus of identity, eclipsing all other aspects. As such, although an individual may belong to or identify with other groups (ethnic, gender, class, etc), the disabled identity becomes the salient one. McTigue (2007) observes that this may lead some to resist being labelled disabled for fear that the ‘absolute concept’ of disability will render them ‘wholly disabled’, effectively obscuring their other traits and abilities. Continue reading “Disabled identity”
Defining disability
“The category disability is not fixed and absolute, but can be, and indeed has been, defined in a variety of different ways throughout history, within particular societies and in any given social context. The fact that definitions of disability are relative rather than absolute have led some sociologists in particular to conclude that disability can only be properly understood as a social construction.” (Oliver, 1989, p 6)
“The term ‘disability,’ as it is commonly and professionally used, is an absolute category without a level or threshold. One is either disabled or not. One cannot be a little disabled any more than one can be a little pregnant.” (Davis 1995a, p 1)
Disability has been used as a rational pretext to justify discrimination against and exclude minority groups from mainstream activities throughout history. Continue reading “Defining disability”
Carl Whetham photography 