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Andy Christensen Carleton College

Emerging Complexities: One College’s Efforts at a Film Series on Disability Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD ), Session # 2.6. Andy Christensen Carleton College. Disclaimers. This is anecdotal, not data driven

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Andy Christensen Carleton College

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  1. Emerging Complexities:One College’s Efforts at a Film Series on DisabilityAssociation on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), Session #2.6 Andy Christensen Carleton College

  2. Disclaimers • This is anecdotal, not data driven • Carleton College has not yet put on entirely successful programming about disability using film • The presenter believes that much can be learned from shared experiences • Questions and interruptions are encouraged

  3. How We Got Here • Began job three years ago • “This Is My Story” • Stories of varying quality and length • Very homogeneous group • Very personalized and individualized • A lot to ask of students • Not intellectually rigorous • Fine. Come up with something better.

  4. Why Show a Film? • As disability bias is about perception, film provides a unique window on the experience. “Showing” rather than “telling” • “Temple Grandin” Quick series of related visual images • Film can be an efficient and social way of conveying information • More in-depth than individual testimonials • Discrete activity that supervisors can appreciate • Students like film

  5. The Objective • Film is a social medium and disability is a social construct • No single film will adequately convey the disability experience • Provides context for your own thinking and procedures on your campus

  6. How Often Should We Sponsor Disability-Related Activities on Campus? • Fewer events, but really make them count • Once a year • Only need to come up with four events, as student body will have changed over entirely by the fifth year • Related: Should programming coincide with designated “Awareness” weeks or months?

  7. Campus Partnerships • Cinema and Media Studies (CAMS) is an Academic Department at Carleton • Student Wellness Advocates (SWAs) promote a variety of wellness programming on campus throughout the year

  8. Words We Liked… • Respectful • Honest • Complex • Messy • Real

  9. Film #1: Who would go to a disability movie? • A “disability movie” or a “movie with disability”? • Brand new movie v. Casting an old favorite in a new light • Food: If you serve it, they will come

  10. Finding Nemo • Everyone has seen it and loved it • Not typically thought of as a movie about disability • Nemo’s fin • Dori’s memory issues • Part of full characters • Parental attitudes toward disability • Matter of fact

  11. Pro’s and Cons • Big turnout • People liked the film and the food • How much impact was had on thinking about disability?

  12. Film #2: What are we trying to say about disability? • People with disabilities have the same wants and desires as people without disabilities • Being a happy and healthy person with a disability doesn’t depend on finishing first

  13. “Thicker Than Water” • Tony, an 11-year-old boy • Loves to play ice hockey • Has hemophilia • Playing last year before checking is allowed

  14. “Thicker Than Water” • Family finds a way to honor his desire • Toughest thing for a parent to do is watch their son or daughter put themselves at risk • Movie models regular ambitions of person with a disability AND parents trying to make their kid feel as much like any other kid as possible

  15. Words We Liked (reprise) • Respectful • Honest • Complex • Messy • Real

  16. The Event • Flew filmmaker in for discussion • Reserved state-of-the-art theater • A fraction of the turnout that we had for Nemo

  17. Ideas for the Future • We like our message; more students need to hear it • Is this an educational activity or a social activity? • Should students be involved in selecting the movie? • What kind of programming is the best fit for your campus?

  18. Other films to think about • The Best Years of Our Lives • Three hour movie from the 1940’s about veterans returning from World War II • Murderball • People with disabilities can be as obsessive about sports and as horny as everyone else • There’s Something About Mary • Many images of disability in the film, but how progressive are they?

  19. About “Thicker Than Water” • 2009 • 72 minutes • www.thickerthanwater-movie.com • Director: Bradley Rappa (email: filmguy24@mac.com)

  20. The Big Picture • Know your campus • Build partnerships • Challenge your students • Film is social, disability is social, decisions about film and disability should be social • Deliberations can be as beneficial as the actual screening

  21. Questions and Comments Andy Christensen anchrist@carleton.edu

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