Just in case you sat through todays lecture and didn't manage to catch all the subtleties of Dr. Sharon-dale Stone's lecture, the issue of Stem Cell research was mentioned.
Allow me to add some fuel to the fire for a potentially contentious discussion on the topic.
First, let me mention that I have been collecting media references to depictions and representations of disability, especially on television and film. I'm especially interested in television representations because these forms are so widely disseminated and their influence is unmistakable.
So, even though some of you may think the the television show 'Southpark' is nothing but low-brow potty mouth humor, and some may think its the greatest show on earth, I suggest that screening a few episodes to analyze content and issues may serve us well in terms of debate. We are not debating the show itself, rather, we ought to take a critical point of view, in terms of content and issues of ethics in order to form a critical discussion.
This is not a requirement.
Watch: Southpark:
Season 5 - 'Kenny Dies'
(http://allsp.com/)
& Season 7 - 'Krazy Kripples.'
(http://allsp.com/)
Once you have screened the episodes return to the blog to post your comments and thoughts.
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Southpark and Stem Cells
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3 comments:
I have to admit I have never thought of South Park as a social critique, especially considering I am not an avid fan of the show. I am, as of today, impressed that the show takes on the norms of society and touches on taboo issues.
Stem cell research, considering how controversial the issue,I find is a good topic for the outlandish humour. I think South Park has given a pretty decent critique of both sides of the issue. Using Kenny's case for the pro side, versus Christopher Reeve and an abusive obsession with the research for the con gives a brief, yet effective when watched together, idea of the argument. Although stem cell research could be used to help some people, the issue of eugenics does rear its head again.
If we were to condone stem cell research and regrow cells, I see a bunch of questions coming into play: who gets the benefit of the "new cells," if someone does not have the resources for it, will they just die? Is this another form of playing God? Will this create new norms, which, if some people do not have the resources to obtain, they will be seen as even more deviant and subject to more social pressure? Are we reinforcing the fact that it is bad to be impaired with continuing this research?
Just to add another thought, because this is the first thing I thought of when watching these episodes, have you ever noticed that when someone in a film or movie is depicted as disabled, they are almost always in a wheelchair, bedridden or on crutches? As I try to think of some example to prove me wrong, I can't remember anything that depicts someone who has, for example, severe down-syndrome, someone who cannot be understood, or someone who cannot pretend to conform to the cultural norm. There always seems to be someone who is relatively "normal" in the sense that people will not see the impaired person as that much different from themselves. I think of Nicolas Cage in Matchstick Men: his character had OCD, but other than that, he was relatively normal; the impairment did not hinder his heist, and we accept the impairment. Can anyone think of anything?
In response to Kristyn's question about the role of disability in film: What about the movie "The Other Sister"? The lead character, played by Juliette Lewis, is very obviously mentally impaired, as is her love interest in the movie. I think this film is also a good critique of the medical model theory which believes that adults who are disabled are not to be treated as adults. The mother in this film fails to realize that her daughter is very high-functioning and independent because of she chooses only to see her daughter's disability. She is also seen as asexual, having her romantic relationship deterred by her family.
Ashley, I seen this movie too, and I agree. The movie 'The Other Sister' reminded me a lot of the film 'Towards Intimacy' because the actor Juliette and her love interest in the film Giovanni were looked down upon as having an intimate relationship. We also seen this with Helen and Mike at the home where their relationship was being discussed as inapporiate by all the staff, they believed they were seen as children, not allowed to be asexual. I thought The Other Sister would possibly be a good movie to be seen in a class like our Sociology of Disability.
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