Representations of Disability

Disability:

-Different

-Strange

-outcasts

-broken

Inside I'm Dancing

First impressions:

It's unusual for there to be a film purely about people with disabilities. From the beginning the home doesn't look like

a very nice place. They're all watching a children's program which says something about their health mentally. It's

clear that the carers cant understand the guy michael in particular. It seems to be a very calm setting; more like an

old peoples home than a home for the disabled. The entrance of Rory is very contrasting to the original setting. It's

very stereotypical towards disabled people; treating them like children, they don't look happy or engaged.

What i think is going to happen in the film following his arrival:

I think that the entrance of Rory into the environment is going to be quite rebellious; he might even bring some fun

to the home. It is clear that he is going to cause havoc and that he will attempt to get out of the home at every opportunity

that he gets.

Semiotic analysis:

Image one:

Michael is staring with a unhappy looking face; this will be an expression of his emotions, he looks sad and his staring is almost a longing to be free from his wheel chair. His positioning shows he might be an outcast already between him and the others. His whole de-mina is muted; he cant control anything, it's a very stereotypical view of a disabled person, loneliness and restriction.

The background is all the wheelchair users in a line like soldiers; this may be the order and respect in the care home but also the lack of control they have over their own lives and the regimented, unchangeable lives they are unable to change.

Image two:

The blank expression on Rory's face shows his inside anger and lack of control, it is evident he doesn't want to be there.

His dress and hair style is very contrasting with the previous image; this could indicate a rebellious streak to him however it could be that he has just been living on the outside world unlike the small enclosed world that every in the home lives.

The facial piercing is also a clue to his persona; a different less mainstream sort of person; very contrasting to your regular stereotype of a disabled person.

Image three:

The bright colours that Rory is wearing shows his segregation already from the rest of the members; this shows his mental separation as well, he is physically but not mentally disabled.

The light behind Rory continues to help separate him from the other two characters in the image; they're both sitting in a more gloomy area with dull clothes and surrounding; this will be the mental barrier between Rory and the other people in the home.

Rory is sitting with has chin up which is contrasting to the others who are all slumped in an awkward position; this could be because of his disability but it could also be pride that he possess unlike many of the other characters.

What Rorys playlist would be:

Mr Brightside- The Killers

Welcome to my life- Simple Plan

To Youth- Flogging Molly

Through Glass- Stone Sour

Discuss the ways in which disability is represented in the extract:

The semiotics of the scene show not only what is happening but also the feelings and emotions of the residents; the clothing and position of the regular residents is very contrasting to the entrance of Rory; this is showing a breakthrough from the general stereotype of a typical disabled person. All of the residents seem to be in their own dull worlds but the entrance of Rory has the potential to make them more "normal" in terms of fashion, fun and also life skills.

Continuation, Others work:

With his introduction to the setup the mood quickly changes. His bright coloured clothing, dyed hair and punk appearance with a lot of jewellery and things no where near visible upon any of the other characters show how different his character is to the rest of them, and the fact that he is going to most probably turn their world upside down. He contrasts greatly with his background.

Camera Work is another aspect used. We see a lot of close-up shots of the disabled characters, giving us a clue to how they are feeling through their facial expressions. Also, we can see that the characters that are in wheelchairs are stationary. This could be shown through the lack of tracking shots, the only time this is used is the van transporting Rory.

Sound is used sparingly in this clip. The non-diagetic sounds used in this clip is basically only the music in the background. This music is also very sad and sedate as the piano plays slowly. The diagetic sounds in this clip are used quite well. When we hear the man on Bagpuss say 'Bagpuss was now tired' it relates to the people in the home. Editing is also used to portray disability, the scenes are jerky like their movements.