Browsing by Author "De Beer Proctor, Christi"
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- ItemWe need to talk about Ballen: towards a working protocol for representing people with intellectual disabilities and the photographic practice(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) De Beer Proctor, Christi; Swartz, Leslie Philip; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Representations of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PWIDD) in the media are rare, and when they do exist, portrayals tend to reflect and perpetuate their marginalization by relying on harmful stereotypes and tropes. Knowing that the media can be a powerful influence on public discourse, this study argues that it is the ethical responsibility of media-makers to interrogate our own practice and to carefully consider how our representations affect PWIDD. Additionally, if we consider it our ethical imperative to uphold the dignity and humanity of PWIDD and to advocate for their civil rights, it stands that they be given the opportunity to have a say in their own representations, and to participate in research which concerns them. So, how do we make media representations of PWIDD more inclusive, ethical and humanizing? The aim of this study is to formulate working ethical guidelines for media-makers to aid the production of compelling, diverse and destigmatising representations which foregrounds PWIDD’s humanity and dignity. Media-makers are members of the mass media (e.g. photographers, journalists, illustrators, editors, producers, stylists etc.) who create and influence the creation and dissemination of media. This study was grounded in feminist disability studies and drew on literature about disability rights, cultural studies, journalism and media studies. Through participatory action research’s reoccurring process of fact-finding, action, reflection and championing for social justice and change, I explored how PWIDD wanted to be represented, or how they wanted to be described and portrayed in various forms of media. Using multimethodology, I collected a wide array of data from various sources. Firstly, through continuously investigating the literature and interrogating past and contemporary representations of PWIDD in the media. Then, by embarking on a collaborative photographic project with several participants, using Photovoice, interviews and photographic portraiture. By using Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2012) to code, compare and categorise the data (transcriptions and photographs) eight themes emerged. These themes centred around what was important to the participants which could inform media-makers planning to represent PWIDD. By integrating the findings and themes with the literature, I was able to develop working guidelines which aim to subvert the ableist gaze. These included centering disabled voices, avoiding cliches, stereotypes and tropes and making the process inclusive and accessible. The results of this study suggested that active, accessible and meaningful collaboration between media-makers and PWIDD is not only possible, but desirable to create compelling, diverse and destigmatising representations which foregrounds their humanity and dignity.