Re-presenting Disability Discussion Questions #8-10

Reading #8, ‘To label the label?’, has left me utterly confused and irritated because I just can’t make any sense of it. I read it three times and have no idea what point the author is trying to make. Sorry, but at least I’m honest, right? If you’re reading along with this book and can explain this chapter to me, I will be eternally grateful.

Reading #9 describes the potential for museums to become places where people who have experienced trauma can initiate or continue the healing process. The example used to highlight this concept is an exhibition about a mental hospital, which like many similar institutions, has a past that is marred by patient abuse, neglect and questionable ethics. The story is told through the voice of former patients and staff members. The end result was overwhelmingly positive, in that many participants felt it was a cathartic experience, but there were also former patients and staff who refused the invitation to participate out of fear of reliving the trauma. How much of a responsibility do you think the curators have in being sensitive to those who don’t want to re-live that past?

Reading #10 is a discussion of tensions between medical historians and disability activists when struggling with finding the ‘best’ way to interpret medical related objects that can be associated with disability, such as photos of disfigurement, prosthetics and other medical devices used by people with disabilities. The biggest problem is that many believe that a strictly scientific interpretation only contributes to continued stigmatization of disability and dehumanization of people, making the disability the primary defining characteristic of the individual. But there is also the argument that ignoring the medical history is detrimental to the process of understanding the evolution of the way disability has been treated by doctors and perceived in society. Is there a ‘common ground’ that can be established to encourage more of a partnership between the medical community and disability activists that will help museum professionals interpret disability responsibly and accurately?