Movie discussion: Rory O'Shea Was Here

Rory O’Shea Was Here centers on Michael (Steven Robertson) and Rory (James McAvoy), two young men with mobility disabilities who leave an assisted living facility to live on their own terms. The challenges they encounter are numerous, from having to petition to be granted their own right to live as they chose (and, in Rory’s case, being refused) to being limited in their choice of home by the absence of a wheelchair ramp. This film gives an enlightening depiction of the challenges of navigating a society that was not designed for your needs.

I do wish they had taken the opportunity to cast actual people with mobility disabilities in the roles of Rory and Michael. Although neither man’s performance came off as disrespectful or caricature-like, but casting physically abled actors in the roles of people with disabilities detracts from the empowering message the movie is meant to convey.

Overall, though, I thought this was an excellent movie with an eye-opening depiction of the struggles of living with a disability in an ableist society.

References

O’Donnell, D. (Director). (2004). Rory O’Shea was here [Motion picture]. Universal Studios.

Understanding oppression

Understanding that people with disabilities experience oppression is absolutely essential in the context of libraries and information agencies. A necessary part of providing effective information services is understanding the inequalities which have shaped our society, our attitudes, and our institutions.

The nature of oppression is that it is propagated by complacency. People with privilege – in this case, people who do not have disabilities – must examine and challenge our own problematic attitudes if we want to be part of the solution to oppression, not part of the problem.

We may mean well, but as people who have not experienced ableist oppression, unexamined ableist attitudes can still worm their way into our interactions. These microaggressions (“Ability,” n.d.) can make people with disabilities feel belittled and unsafe, and it is essential for libraries to be maintained as safe spaces for the pursuit of information and services. The hostile environment created by prevailing ableist attitudes in any institution, especially by the professionals working there, will make people less willing to seek assistance there, or less convinced that there is real assistance to be had. This has a chilling effect on access.

In working with people with disabilities as an information professional, I will strive to learn about ableism in our society, examine my own attitudes, and work to disassemble attitudes that are problematic. I will resist any temptation to dismiss the concerns of people with disabilities and their allies (and strive to be an ally myself); I will listen and consider. I will work to ensure that the services and resources I provide are inclusive and helpful for people with disabilities and other oppressed groups.

References

Ability. (n.d.). The Microaggressions Project. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://microaggressions.com/tagged/ability

Media representations

For this assignment, I have reviewed some popular media sources for their portrayals of older people and people with disabilities. The source I would like to focus on for this exercise, however, is a comedy show on FOX called Raising Hope. I have focused on the episode “Mrs. Smartypants” (Kirschenbaum, Mariano, & Gordin, 2012).

The most prominent representation of an older individual is the character of “Maw Maw,” played by Cloris Leachman, age 85. Maw Maw shares a home with her granddaughter Virginia, her grandson-in-law Burt, her great-grandson Jimmy, and her infant great-great-granddaughter Hope.

The main source of comedy for the character of Maw Maw is her dementia. She spends a great deal of her time in the background, with the comedy springing from her strange behaviors, obliviousness to the world around her, and flashes to the past. During the opening scene of this
episode, she is seen in the background of the shot, wearing her panties and bra on the outside of her clothing. The other characters, for the most part, ignore her.

She has temporary periods of “lucidity” where she takes a somewhat more active role in the plot. In this episode, for example, Virginia attempts to “catch Maw Maw while she’s lucid” to have Maw Maw tutor her in history. Maw Maw, accompanying on the piano, teaches her in song about the major wars of the United States. When Maw Maw is not in her “lucid” state, however, she is dismissed by the other characters. At one point, Virginia, Jimmy and Burt ask her to give them a math problem. When they do not understand the (legitimate) problem she recites, Burt asks, “Is she even lucid right now?

It is worth saying that Leachman’s performance as Maw Maw is genuinely funny. She is a supremely skilled comedic actor, and she appears to have a great deal of fun in the role. However, her character is seldom utilized as more than a joke or prop. The other characters ordinarily dismiss her, and occasionally use her, and I perceive no evidence of the show’s writers and directors having any level of self-awareness regarding this treatment.

Maw Maw’s dementia, too, is treated as a gag. The narratives I have heard of people with dementia and their loved ones, as well as my own experiences with my grandfather, paint a different picture. It can be deeply painful and frustrating both for the person with the condition and their loved ones. This is absent from the show.

I am not saying that they should paint Maw Maw as a tragic figure, or show only the difficulty and pain of living with dementia. After all, it is a comedy show. I’m not saying they should not feature a character with dementia, either. There is humor to be found in any situation in life. I would, however, like to see a more nuanced treatment of Maw Maw, one that does not completely brush aside the reality of her life, while still finding genuine humor in it. One that engages her more fully in the show instead of relegating her to the background until they need a gag. I think the show would be stronger for it.

References

Kirschenbaum, A. (Writer), Mariano, M. (Writer), & Gordin, E. (Director). (2012). Mrs. Smartypants [Television series episode]. In G. Garcia (Producer), Raising Hope. Beverly Hills, CA: FOX Broadcasting Company. Retrieved from http://www.hulu.com/watch/319434/raising-hope-mrs-smartypants

Baby Boomers and our view of aging

I think Baby Boomers will bring about a more positive view of aging individuals, with greater inclusion of older adults in media, popular culture and commerce. Images of older people will increasingly tend to be people who are active, engaged, healthy and independent.

However, a stereotype is a stereotype. The stereotype Novak terms “the ageless self” (2009, p. 15), though it promotes a more positive image of older adults, still has the power to disenfranchise, silence, and render invisible those who do not fit within its constraints. This depiction of aging does not represent the breadth of the older population, and the pervasion of this image implies that people with the resources to attain the carefree, active, “age-defying” lifestyle are somehow more deserving of attention and respect.

This parallels a pattern seen in treatment of other oppressed groups, where those who “overcome adversity,” usually by attaining achievements and possessing qualities conventionally within the domain of those with privilege, are more accepted and visible. Such individuals are often held up as inspirational examples, representing a message that “if they can do it, anyone can.”

This message’s corollary is generally left unspoken: if you can’t do it, it’s your fault. This message invalidates real barriers – social, physiological, financial, etc. – that prevent many from attaining the ideal, as well as the notion that the ideal may not be the only desirable way to be (Novak, 2009, pp. 15–16).

The prominence and financial power of the Baby Boom generation will improve matters for aging adults, but this will not eliminate age discrimination. The pressure to be "youthful" will not go away as long as prevailing attitudes continue to grant more respect, visibility and acceptance to people who fit into this mold. To truly combat this discrimination, we must examine and disassemble these attitudes.

References

Novak, M. (2009). Issues in aging (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Your excuse is invalid [image]. (n.d.). Facebook. Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei