Disability in Mass Media

This course focuses on issues related to disability and mass media representation, including journalism, TV, film, advertising, photography, documentary, comic art and the Internet. Topics covered will include: the relationship between disability studies and media studies; the various models of media representation of disability; the impact of stigma in mass media imagery; mediated bodies - the impact of cultural and media representations on the experiences of people with disabilities; disability media, i.e. content created by and for people with disabilities; content and textual analysis - researching the prevalence and meaning of mediated disability representation; news about disability rights in U.S. society, what is and isn’t covered; and “hidden” disabilities and how they do or don’t get onto the media’s radar.

Fall