REPRESENTATION OF DISABILITY IN CASUALTY

REPRESENTATION OF DISABITY- CASUALTY. In the clip of casualty the representation of disability has been shown in different ways using the comparison between two disabled characters as well as 'able' characters. We see disability being represented through the use of mise en scene, cinematography and micro elements in this constructed media clip. Firstly we are introduced to Alex who is disabled and Adam his brother/carer. The first scene is of Adam trying on a top whist Alex sits in his wheel chair looking and possibly giving advise, this conveys the idea that an able person can get dressed and try clothes on in shops without any problem/trouble whereas disable people cannot representing the help they need for getting dressed and similar daily routines showing they're un-able to preform such tasks that an able person can do easily every day, we also see this a little later on in the toilet when Adam is helping Alex go to the toilet again this shows that disabled people are unable to do daily tasks because of their disability which is almost showing that it is a burden on them and others backed up by the idea that Alex, in the toilet scene says about a carer suggesting that he thinks Adam is fed up looking after him, so instead a carer who wants to help people in these situations would be better suited. We also see disability as being represented as embarrassing, this is suggested in the first scene when the shop assistant asks Adam if he would like to try on anything and Alex speaks about his disability and Adam says “alright, come on, lets go” showing that he doesn't want the shop assistant to hear any more so he takes Alex away from the situation, we also see the reaction shot of the shop assistant moving slowly and pulling a face showing she is shocked by Alex who is disabled. Then in the café scene Alex says “does Jessica know you have a brother?” there is a pause and a reaction shot of Adam indicating that she doesn't insinuating that Adam is too embarrassed to tell Jessica about his disabled brother showing that it may put a girl off the fact his brother is disabled and he is known as a carer. Also in the cafe scene Alex is giving a biscuit with his order and Adam says “how come he gets a biscuit?” the high camera angle shows the same coffee but one with a biscuit showing that because of disability they're treated differently because Alex was given something extra possibly showing pitty for the fact he is disabled and different which could show that disability is seen as abnormal in society and therefore people give more to a disabled person like they would maybe a child suggesting that he is seen as a child needing constant care because he is getting something free which a child normally gets to maybe keep them quiet or to make them feel more special also showing that disabled people are not seen as fully grown adults they're seen as much less and are given free things to try comprehend that they're not able to do certain things so they're given freebies to make them seem more equal in society. However in the clip there is another character called Ely who is also disabled although he does not have a wheelchair, Ely is seen as more able because he is doing shopping and walking alone without a carer or someone to help which an able person can also do, making him and disabled people the same and less abnormal, being able to preform the same tasks. Although we see some signs of pitty for instance the scene with the drunk girls, one girl says “awh, he looks lost, someone take him home” the 'awh' is something that is stereotypically thought that 'able' people say when they see a disabled person, they feel sorry for the person and empathize because they would hate to be in the situation which is shown from this scene. We also see the vulnerability of disabled people being represented through the character Ely when the hooded 'chav's are following him on their bikes, there is a close up of Elys face showing he is scared indicating that disabled people are more likely to be targeted which is a true fact in real life because they're seen as easy to attack because of how different they're also showing that they're vulnerable because Elly is changing his direction to get away from the 'chavs' and seems very scared then when faced with the 'chav's' he holds his bag close to him. In conclusion in this constructed drama of causality disability has been represented in some positive ways through Ely who is seen to be more independent making disabled people considered part of society and following 'social norms' however it is mostly seen in a negative way through both of the disabled characters showing that in media and possibly even in real life disabled people are seen as embarrassing,vulnerable, pittyful, reliabilities, and possibly even abnormal and outsiders.