Logo image
Commentary [Two cartoons on disabilities]
Editorial   Open access   Peer reviewed

Commentary [Two cartoons on disabilities]

David H. Flood and Rhonda L. Soricelli
Academic medicine, v 82(1), pp 93-93
01 Jan 2007
url
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.acm.0000256690.07010.6eView
Published, Version of Record (VoR)Maybe Open Access (Publisher Bronze) Open

Abstract

Education & Educational Research Education, Scientific Disciplines Health Care Sciences & Services Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology Social Sciences
Stereotypically, the abled have come to view the disabled as objects of pity or as inspirational, heroic figures, with laughter directed toward disabilities seen as violating all the rules of political correctness. Recently, though, humor directed at disabilities has been making inroads into popular culture. Many people are offended or at least discomforted, believing that disabilities humor is in poor taste. Many others, however, embrace it, with some of the most outspoken advocates being the disabled themselves. Consider, for example, the poll conducted by Ouch!, a BBC Web site focusing on disability. When asked to vote for “the greatest disabled TV character,” instead of the heroically inspirational, they chose Timmy, a mentally slow, wheelchair-bound child, from the irreverent animated cartoon series South Park. Episodes in which he is featured include “Helen Keller: The Musical,” which also includes a physically challenged turkey, and “Do the Handicapped Go to Hell?”(with the follow-up episode entitled “Probably”). What’s more, the “Krazy Kripples” episode even dares to spoof “Mister Inspiration,” Christopher Reeve.

Metrics

26 Record Views

Details

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Web of Science research areas
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Health Care Sciences & Services
Logo image