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Disability as Entertainment: So You Think I Can't Dance?

by Julie Clawson 10-05-2009 | 2:00pm
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091005-so-you-think-you-can-danceSo I'm a fan of So You Think You Can Dance. I enjoy watching dance and I used to dance, so I like the show even though it is a mostly scripted reality TV program. At this point in the season they are just showing the try-outs -- which predictably have the fools trying to get on TV alongside the good dancers and the poor folks who think they can dance but obviously can't. But I've been bothered the past couple of seasons during the try-outs with how they deal with the handicapped dancers who come to give it a shot. It really hit home this week when they showed a girl who had come to try out who was missing her left hand just like me.

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Unfortunately, these handicapped dancers make it on the TV broadcast because they make for good dramatic television. They get to tell their story and the judges get to do a teary-eyed moment before they tell them some version of "you really wouldn't work for our program, but we are so proud of your courage." Basically, "you look too weird and awkward to appeal to a wide audience but we will boost our ratings by using you to elicit pity and then move on." It is never an affirmation of the person embracing his or her handicap and working with it, but always a pat on the back for choosing to live life out among regular people despite having a handicap. Like with the one-armed girl this week -- granted, she had just lost her hand in the past couple of years, and so had to relearn how to do life, but even as the show commended her courage it couldn't get past her handicap. As I watched her dance, I kept wondering why she wasn't really using her half arm. It stayed close to her side and it seemed like she was hiding it. The judges then praised her for hiding her handicap while she danced so that the viewers didn't have to deal with seeing an imbalanced form.

I've been there. I recall during try-out week for drill team in high school, I was reminded over and over again that my arm might prevent me from doing the dances well -- I would never look perfect alongside the rest of the team. I got the message and dropped out of try-outs. I stayed in the dance classes though as a teacher's assistant and I took over teaching the special education students that had been mainstreamed into the class. The teacher wanted nothing to do with them or me and shuffled us off to the side. And I've mentioned here before about visiting children's homes in Latvia where children born missing limbs are sent to live where the public won't have to be confronted with them. I was appalled then, but I wonder how different that is from TV shows that parade us out there to show us pity but then still won't accept us in their world as we are. (And how is that different from people who won't support universal health care so that we handicapped folks won't continue to be denied coverage for being born like this? But that's a whole different issue

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by: rhiannonhendrickson

10-07-2009 @ 1:03pm

Julie,

This is a great post! I too am a fan of SYTYCD and completely agree with your sentiments about how the judges applaud the courage of people with disabilities but don't truly give them a chance. I find it almost comical how they don't give them a chance because, as you said, "[they] look too weird and awkward to appeal to a wide audience but we will boost our ratings by using you to elicit pity and then move on." because the show is essentially a popularity contest based more on the contestants' personalities rather than their actual dancing abilities and who's to say that someone missing part of their arm wouldn't bring in votes?

My client, Meeting the Challenge, works to train people about and implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and as a way to help spread awareness they commissioned the internationally acclaimed Ping Chong & Company to put together a play that tells the stories of people with disabilities- told by them, in their own words. "Invisible Voices: New Perspectives on Disability" intends to change our perspective on what it means to be disabled and gives voice to our nation's largest, least understood, and least visible minority group.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 3:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource for those wanting to learn more, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.

by: rhiannonhendrickson

10-07-2009 @ 1:03pm

Julie,

This is a great post! I too am a fan of SYTYCD and completely agree with your sentiments about how the judges applaud the courage of people with disabilities but don't truly give them a chance. I find it almost comical how they don't give them a chance because, as you said, "[they] look too weird and awkward to appeal to a wide audience but we will boost our ratings by using you to elicit pity and then move on." because the show is essentially a popularity contest based more on the contestants' personalities rather than their actual dancing abilities and who's to say that someone missing part of their arm wouldn't bring in votes?

My client, Meeting the Challenge, works to train people about and implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and as a way to help spread awareness they commissioned the internationally acclaimed Ping Chong & Company to put together a play that tells the stories of people with disabilities- told by them, in their own words. "Invisible Voices: New Perspectives on Disability" intends to change our perspective on what it means to be disabled and gives voice to our nation's largest, least understood, and least visible minority group.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 1:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 1:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.

by: titopoet

10-05-2009 @ 2:13pm

I am blind in on eye, an eye that is smaller and crossed. I can understand not wanting to be defined by pity. I am also am a success in life as I am surround by love, God, Church, family and friends. I wonder if there is a theology of pity verses a theology of compassion. Pity involves thinking of the other as less than, while compassion is an equal to the other. St Paul asks us to think of others as better than, I think pity is a weakness.

by: tbabe29

10-05-2009 @ 3:53pm

I saw that episode too, but I actually thought the dancer had a chance of moving forward because she was a great dancer and she said she had learned how to partner. Color me naive. I was actually surprised that she was having a hard time with the choreography round.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 3:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource for those wanting to learn more, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.

by: Ngchen

10-05-2009 @ 4:38pm

Not too long ago, I was at the fair. And much to my surprise and horror, there were two freak shows that were charging something like $0.50 admission. I thought such freak shows died out at the end of the 19th century! Of course I refused to patronize them, but I am wondering. What else can be done to get them shut down?

by: facebook-1298253577

10-05-2009 @ 7:31pm

That was a great article! It says it all. I'm a parent who uses a wheelchair and that's a pretty big "freak show" at times. Maybe one day we can all be viewed as "normal," no matter what our differences may be.

by: titopoet

10-05-2009 @ 2:13pm

I am blind in on eye, an eye that is smaller and crossed. I can understand not wanting to be defined by pity. I am also am a success in life as I am surround by love, God, Church, family and friends. I wonder if there is a theology of pity verses a theology of compassion. Pity involves thinking of the other as less than, while compassion is an equal to the other. St Paul asks us to think of others as better than, I think pity is a weakness.

by: tbabe29

10-05-2009 @ 3:53pm

I saw that episode too, but I actually thought the dancer had a chance of moving forward because she was a great dancer and she said she had learned how to partner. Color me naive. I was actually surprised that she was having a hard time with the choreography round.

by: Ngchen

10-05-2009 @ 4:38pm

Not too long ago, I was at the fair. And much to my surprise and horror, there were two freak shows that were charging something like $0.50 admission. I thought such freak shows died out at the end of the 19th century! Of course I refused to patronize them, but I am wondering. What else can be done to get them shut down?

by: facebook-1298253577

10-05-2009 @ 7:31pm

That was a great article! It says it all. I'm a parent who uses a wheelchair and that's a pretty big "freak show" at times. Maybe one day we can all be viewed as "normal," no matter what our differences may be.

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by: titopoet

10-05-2009 @ 2:13pm

I am blind in on eye, an eye that is smaller and crossed. I can understand not wanting to be defined by pity. I am also am a success in life as I am surround by love, God, Church, family and friends. I wonder if there is a theology of pity verses a theology of compassion. Pity involves thinking of the other as less than, while compassion is an equal to the other. St Paul asks us to think of others as better than, I think pity is a weakness.

by: titopoet

10-05-2009 @ 2:13pm

I am blind in on eye, an eye that is smaller and crossed. I can understand not wanting to be defined by pity. I am also am a success in life as I am surround by love, God, Church, family and friends. I wonder if there is a theology of pity verses a theology of compassion. Pity involves thinking of the other as less than, while compassion is an equal to the other. St Paul asks us to think of others as better than, I think pity is a weakness.

by: tbabe29

10-05-2009 @ 3:53pm

I saw that episode too, but I actually thought the dancer had a chance of moving forward because she was a great dancer and she said she had learned how to partner. Color me naive. I was actually surprised that she was having a hard time with the choreography round.

by: tbabe29

10-05-2009 @ 3:53pm

I saw that episode too, but I actually thought the dancer had a chance of moving forward because she was a great dancer and she said she had learned how to partner. Color me naive. I was actually surprised that she was having a hard time with the choreography round.

by: Ngchen

10-05-2009 @ 4:38pm

Not too long ago, I was at the fair. And much to my surprise and horror, there were two freak shows that were charging something like $0.50 admission. I thought such freak shows died out at the end of the 19th century! Of course I refused to patronize them, but I am wondering. What else can be done to get them shut down?

by: Ngchen

10-05-2009 @ 4:38pm

Not too long ago, I was at the fair. And much to my surprise and horror, there were two freak shows that were charging something like $0.50 admission. I thought such freak shows died out at the end of the 19th century! Of course I refused to patronize them, but I am wondering. What else can be done to get them shut down?

by: facebook-1298253577

10-05-2009 @ 7:31pm

That was a great article! It says it all. I'm a parent who uses a wheelchair and that's a pretty big "freak show" at times. Maybe one day we can all be viewed as "normal," no matter what our differences may be.

by: facebook-1298253577

10-05-2009 @ 7:31pm

That was a great article! It says it all. I'm a parent who uses a wheelchair and that's a pretty big "freak show" at times. Maybe one day we can all be viewed as "normal," no matter what our differences may be.

by: rhiannonhendrickson

10-07-2009 @ 1:03pm

Julie,

This is a great post! I too am a fan of SYTYCD and completely agree with your sentiments about how the judges applaud the courage of people with disabilities but don't truly give them a chance. I find it almost comical how they don't give them a chance because, as you said, "[they] look too weird and awkward to appeal to a wide audience but we will boost our ratings by using you to elicit pity and then move on." because the show is essentially a popularity contest based more on the contestants' personalities rather than their actual dancing abilities and who's to say that someone missing part of their arm wouldn't bring in votes?

My client, Meeting the Challenge, works to train people about and implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and as a way to help spread awareness they commissioned the internationally acclaimed Ping Chong & Company to put together a play that tells the stories of people with disabilities- told by them, in their own words. "Invisible Voices: New Perspectives on Disability" intends to change our perspective on what it means to be disabled and gives voice to our nation's largest, least understood, and least visible minority group.

by: rhiannonhendrickson

10-07-2009 @ 1:03pm

Julie,

This is a great post! I too am a fan of SYTYCD and completely agree with your sentiments about how the judges applaud the courage of people with disabilities but don't truly give them a chance. I find it almost comical how they don't give them a chance because, as you said, "[they] look too weird and awkward to appeal to a wide audience but we will boost our ratings by using you to elicit pity and then move on." because the show is essentially a popularity contest based more on the contestants' personalities rather than their actual dancing abilities and who's to say that someone missing part of their arm wouldn't bring in votes?

My client, Meeting the Challenge, works to train people about and implement the Americans with Disabilities Act and as a way to help spread awareness they commissioned the internationally acclaimed Ping Chong & Company to put together a play that tells the stories of people with disabilities- told by them, in their own words. "Invisible Voices: New Perspectives on Disability" intends to change our perspective on what it means to be disabled and gives voice to our nation's largest, least understood, and least visible minority group.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 1:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 1:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 3:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource for those wanting to learn more, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.

by: lil_norske

10-13-2009 @ 3:44am

What all does Sojourner's do in regards to disability rights? I am on the autism spectrum, and there is a growing feeling in the autistic community that we are being stigmatized (ironically by the some of the same organizations that claim to represent us), and that we need some form of organized self-advocacy. I haven't seen many Christian organizations deal with this as a social justice issue.

www.wrongplanet.net is a good resource for those wanting to learn more, as is www.autisticadvocacy.org.