What is meant by Collective Identity and what role do the media play in creating it?
David Snow acknowledged the ‘sense of one-ness’ of which is created through the media when representing disability and those affected by it. This is in reference to the concept of collective identity, whereby there is a portrayal of connection between a group of individuals whom contrast others around them, hence the link to the medias portrayal of disability. However, whilst the media present a sense of collective identity they also try to normalise differences and promote integration.
Arguably, the media portrays disability through a sense of ‘one-ness’ in order to highlight the struggles of disabled characters/ people in order to build empathy from the audience. In James Marsh’s ‘The Theory of Everything’ (2014), he reflects the way in which disability creates hardships for not only the disabled individual but also the ones around him, thus portraying the collective identity of disability; in reality, disability not only affects the victim but also the family who come together in order to help and support them. During the scene whereby Stephan Hawking’s character is playing with his kids whilst in his wheelchair, there is the use of ariel shots which show the scene from above looking down on them playing together; this reflects collective identity of a family who have been affected by the impact of disability, arguably intending to build sympathy through this towards disability.

Comparatively, historical media, such as Jim Sheridan’s ‘My Left Foot’ (1989) reflect the impact of disability and the effects it has on a family however the portrayal of his disability is much more negative in contrast to 21st century texts such as ‘The Theory of Everything’ (2014). Arguably, collective identity and the sense of ‘one-ness’ which Snow argues is limited in such historical texts like ‘My Left Foot’ as Christie is shown as a burden on his family, for example in the restaurant scene which shows him with uncontrollable anger, essentially leading him to cause embarrassment towards his family; this is portrayed through a panning shot, revealing everyone’s horrified and embarrassed facial expressions around the table, as well as zooms into other people eating in the restaurant also appearing shocked at the disability of Christie. As a 21st century audience, we sympathise with the lack of understanding towards his cerebral palsy which is reflected in the film from the thirties, when it was set, and reflects a limited sense of ‘one-ness’ as his family see him as a ‘burden’ (Paul Hunt’s stereotypes).

The media can also portray the collective identity of disability through being different to others and standing out. The Carnivalesque representation of disability can be linked to the use of collective identity and can be seen in Tod Browning’s (1932) ‘Freaks’, whereby the group of disabled characters are all put together in order to differentiate them from the rest of society; they stick together due to the lack of acceptance from the rest of society as a result of their disability.  During the End scene of the film, all of the ‘Freaks’ can be seen crawling on the floor towards Hercules, shown through ariel shots looking down on them together as ‘one’. This reflects their collective identity as underdeveloped or unevolved and as being lower than the rest of society, hence the crawling. This negative portrayal of collective identity highlights the Carnivalesque approach to disability as during the 1930’s there was a distinct lack of empathy and understanding towards disability and people genuinely perceived those with disability as social outsiders and ‘Freaks’.
Similarly, historical attitudes towards disability and a portrayal of collective identity through individuals being shown together because of their differences can be seen in Michael Gracey’s ‘The Greatest Showman’ (2017). However, unlike Browning’s ‘Freaks’ (1932) which merely portrays the disabled characters as utter social outsiders, Gracey’s portrayal of the group of disabled people instead empowers them as opposed to showing them as ‘Freaks’, thus revealing the development of attitudes from the 1930’s juxtaposing present day’s attitude to disability and arguably, Gracey intended to empower the group of disabled people in order to reflect modern day understanding and respect towards disability. He still uses collective identity through showing them as different to society, and adopts a Carnivalesque approach to an extent, however instead of degrading their collective group he shows their talents and achievements. For example, ….
ALSO WRITE ABOUT FURURE PREDICTIONS AND MEETTEAMSUPREME

Point on COUNTER ARGUMENT
WHILST THE MEDIA CREATES A SENSE OF IDENTITY THEY ALSO TRY TO NORMALISE DIFFERENCE AND PROMOTE INTERGRATION
THE UNDATABLES ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
THE A WORD

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