1. Disability
and
Ability

2. Paul Hunt (1991)
• 10 stereotypes of
disabled people in media:
– Pitiable or pathetic
– Object of curiosity or violence
– Sinister or evil
– The super cripple
– As atmosphere
– Laughable
– His/her own worst enemy
– Burden
– Non-sexual
– Unable to participate in daily life

3. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Pitiable or pathetic
– Most common stereotype
– Shown to be deserving of
pity when faced with
difficulty or prejudice
– Charity appeals have often
used this representation
– TV dramas still use it as
a shortcut

4. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Object of curiosity or
violence
– Presenting people as
unusual
– Disability is something
to be viewed / observed
– Difference is highlighted
and made a spectacle
– Puts disabled and
non-disabled people in
binary opposition when
they are not

5. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Super cripple
– Position of admiration despite disability
– Patronising in some ways – e.g. admiring attitude
of people with disabilities

6. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Humour
– Pleasure in the misfortune of others
(schadenfreunde)
– Disability seen as source of
humour since the Ancient Greeks
– Humour based on disability
– Or humour despite of it

7. Paul Hunt (1991)
• Sinister or evil
– Scarring and disability
as short cut for evil
– Scarring and disability
often used to signify
violence or anger
– Joker / Freddy Krueger