Hearing Actor in deaf blind Role, “So What,” You Say?
Greeting Colleagues,
The controversy continues. Fresh on the heels of The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter comes another production, Miracle Worker with Abigail Breslin (hearing) in the role of the deaf blind character, Helen Keller.
In iVillage, Entertainment, more on the casting of a hearing person in the role of Helen Keller. The Kidglue story adds that Blind people are also angry.
Thirty Mile Woman talks about the controversial casting and offers an interesting perspective.
Across the pond, British reality TV (Channel Four) launched a new show with disabled people, Cast Offs.
A British blogger, Femalefirst talks about the new reality show.
Simon Startin writes about Cast Offs in November 10, 2009 issue of U.K.'s Guardian and asks whether the program will show a new side to the disabled population.
Lynn Elbe's AP story on Glee, a Fox TV program (U.S.) with a non-disabled actor in the role of a wheelchair character is picked up for publication in November 11, 2009 issues of USA Today and The Huffington Post. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/10/glee-wheelchair-episode-u_n_352778.html)
There are many in our society who do not understand or are comfortable with "the disability world." To learn more, check out Society for Disability Studies.
Media and Disability offers a realistic, refreshing perspective. Disability Studies Quarterly affirms our realistic existence.
Truth be told, my friends, we're as old as time. We've been around since day one. All the segregation terminology and so called "justifiable" discrimination in the name of art will not change the reality of who we are and our rightful place in society. We're part of your national identity.
Hollywood, Broadway, Madison Avenue and Wall Street set stereotype standards. When these standards are practiced and enforced, my colleagues and I are denied our rightful place in society.
"So what," you say?
Stay tuned,
Jane