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A sustained attempt to bring beauty to blogging by recording those fleeting things that may otherwise go unnoticed.
About
- seahorse
- Seeking beauty, beautiful words, things, places, works, people, deeds. Musings on beauty as an antidote to ugliness in everyday life.
We want people to feel with us more than to act for us George Eliot
BADD 2010
Blogging Against Disablism Day
Blogs I am reading and discovering
- An Unreliable witness
- arthriticyoungthing
- Astrid's Journal
- ballastexistenz
- Body Of Work
- Chronic Holiday
- Cottage Smallholder
- cusp
- Dave Hingsburger
- Diary of A Goldfish
- Disability Studies@Temple U
- Dr Speedy
- E is for...
- Frida Writes
- Gemma Brown's Weblog
- Geoffrey Chaucer Hath A Blog
- Growing Up With a Disability
- Liverpool Leftovers
- Marmite Boy
- Midlife and Treachery
- Miss Vertigo
- mybeautifulwickedness
- never that easy
- rachelcreative
- Reading The Signs
- S.
- Screw Bronze
- Single Lens Reflections
- Stephany@bipolarsoupkitchen
- This Is My Blog
- Wheelchair Dancer
- wheeliecatholic
- Witticisms
- Words Mean Nothing
BADD 2009: FAVE READS
“One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion.”
Simone de Beauvoir
Simone de Beauvoir
7 comments:
To be honest I do not know what to think. The video had me covering my eyes at times for fear of something jumping out at me. But I get your gist about the music. (I think I do)
The idea of the disabled as innocent angels kind of irritates me, but this depiction was less humanity-denying than a lot of "angel" depictions are. I think on the whole I say yes, but then I'm a fan of Sigur Ros.
Mostly, I would say no to this. I think the wee fairy wings signify a cuteness/smallness/innocence that is an offensive cliche for people with Down's (and other disabilities). It could have been a strong video if they had allowed the dancers more dignity, I think. The quotes at the beginning made me think of music expressing the inexpressible and what the video producer is saying about the people who have Down's. Are they suggesting that music is a complex language that can express the mystery of having a disability that affects your thinking? Or that people with Down's are closer to angels because they are "simple"? Is this a dance troupe? What's their intent with this piece? Did they have agency? So many questions!
And what do you think?
It's a reluctant no from me. I surprised myself with the strength of my reaction. I love Sigur Ros and I think I know what they were trying to communicate. And I don't think they intentionally denied the actors dignity or self-expression by including them in a work designed to communicate a message about disability, about self-expression, about feelings. But half way through watching I just became uncomfortable. It didn't sit right with me. I wondered about the angel symbolism and it perplexed, and then offended me. I was moved by the kiss, but then I realised that the moment stood alone, away from all the fairy/angel trappings. I know that my non-disabled perspective would have been very different to my disabled one. But I am disabled so my view is, dare I say, more enlightened than those who think they are enlightened but sadly are not. It's a beautiful piece of music and I know that Sigur Ros would never set out to offend. The YouTube comments suggest that the actors are part of a theatre group in Iceland. The word special is used within that comment. Grrr. The film provoked a complex reaction in me. It's why I asked Yes or No?
I was quite uncomfortable with it too. I don't like seeing disabled people being used in roles that reinforce stereotypes and this video did just that I think it was just too cute for its own good and perpetuated the myth that all people with Downs as child like. I am a huge fan of Sigur Ros too but this was a mistake. I fail to see the relevance of using disabled actors force this piece. It is kind of like having black actors portraying some kind of Uncle Tom racial stereotype.
Thanks for posting it though Seahorse as it has been an interesting debate.
Hope you are feeling better today.
Marmite and Donimo, Tayi and Jake it's a perplexing one, especially if you love the band involved. But again, it's an example of non-disabled people missing the mark, I feel.
I'm glad you posted it, too. It is interesting to talk about this stuff with other folks who have disabilities.
If you get a chance to look at the TV milk ads I just posted on Chronic Holiday, I would love to get your take on them - you being a mum and all. Can I lure you into another discussion? :)
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