Disability Now – Paul Darke

April 2000 TV Review

Horizon: Out on a Limb (BBC2, 17 February) was a tragic exploration of the issue of body dysmorphia - tragic in the sense that the programme epitomised every evil society has towards disability. For a documentary about people wishing to have their legs cut of, to not have the intelligent voice of disabled people themselves in the programme was crass and indicative of ignorance, intolerance and limited understanding of the issues explored. No wonder the medical profession pander to the sad illusions of body dysmorphia. Just as Germane Greer cannot tolerate transsexuals - as they distort the object of their illusions - so the body dysmorphics on display led empathy to leave my body ASAP.

The medical professions - especially psychiatry - inability to engage with disabled people on an equal basis leads to such drivel as this programme. When one woman who wanted both her legs cut of spoke of being in a wheelchair as like being 'home at last', and the various doctors spoke of the dangers these people pose to themselves, I immediately wanted to become a train driver to assist them in their delusion. Casey Jones here I come. They made me laugh.

Unlike Goodness Gracious Me (BBC2, 3 March, series) and its increasing use of impairment jokes that are as old as moving images themselves. Its move from Radio 4 was bold and initially worked but I dread the airing of the television pilot edition of Radio 4 disability comedy Yes Sir, I Can Boogie. I listened to every edition on the radio and I am still waiting to laugh. There is a lot of comedy to be had from disability, it just does not happen to be in Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.

Top of the Pops (BBC1, 10 March) was my first viewing of Madonna's new pop video to go with her No. 1 single cover version of American Pie. It was a simple video, lots of shots of interesting Americans, and I was pleasantly surprised to see interesting disabled people being a full part of it.

Isaac Hayes: Soul Man (BBC2, March 4) was a wasted opportunity to look at a legend in his own lifetime. What would be more interesting is if they paid me to make a better film about the music, and the man, of Black soul music legend Teddy Pendergast (now a wheelchair user). Exploring his significance to this white, English, working class blob in Surrey in the eighties. Oh, just woken up - TV is not that interesting.

Two contrasting documentaries about disabled people were on in March: The South Bank Show: Chuck Close (ITV, 5 March); and King Gimp (National Geographic Channel, 7 March). King Gimp may have been Oscar nominated for its exploration of the inspirational life of American Dan Keplinger, who has CP, but it was yet another triumph over tragedy story in the medical mode of representation. Surprisingly, Chuck Close - a legendary modern American artist who uses a wheelchair - told us much more about life and society. The aim is not to study society but to change what it is and how we see it. At least Chuck, rather than Dan, tried to do this.

534 Words