The aim of the project is to systematise theatre performances and films, in which people with real disabilities take part, with the help of a description model that regards itself as complementary to the usual difference-theoretical approaches in Disability Studies. The model includes three analysis levels: Narrative (as the context in which disability is placed), expectation (as the classification which disability receives via normality requirements) and experience (as a reaction to the confrontation with disability). The prioritisation which potentially puts performances and films on one level, and also the interplay of the three levels, will give information on the image of disability communicated through the aesthetic texts. This image will in particular be aligned with characteristics of the diversity category “disability”. Disability, according to the hypothesis, differs from other diversity categories through commonality, negativity, specific heterogeneity and specific ambivalence.

The performances and films in which the three analysis levels – particularly ambivalence – are presented, will form the basis for theoretical reflexion. Furthermore, they will demonstrate the potential of aesthetic texts regarding core topics of Disability Studies, in particular the relationship of diversity and inclusion as well as the meaning of ambivalence for the images of disability in theatre performances and films. In this way, media-specific characteristics of the texts will be explored for their potential to create ambivalence and to deal with it, e.g. the “hic et nunc” of the stage and/or the cutting and editing technique of film.

The focus of the analyses lies in the countries Spain and France, although in the theory part also other European productions will be incorporated for comparison, and during the time from 1990 to date.

The project is made up of three subprojects which have the following aims:

To describe disability in theatre performances and films using the key terms narrative, expectation and experience, and to introduce the range of images of people with disability;

To observe the interplay between narrative, expectation and experience and thereby to highlight the creation or repression of ambivalences;

To highlight the opportunity of theatre performances and films to deal with the characteristics of the diversity category “disability”;

Using the findings of the individual analyses as well as the representation of ambivalence, to highlight the contribution of theatre and film scientific analysis for fundamental issues of Disability Studies, of which the concept of diversity and inclusion should be particularly mentioned.

The research results should be presented to a wide public in such a way that inclusion opportunities also become clear in a scientific context.

You can find a presentation of the project in our videopodcast.

You can find further information on the corpus of the research project, publications and press reports in the archive.