Avatar, Ableism, Makeup and Plastic Surgery

[beliael]

Originally published at my other blog. You can comment here or there.

Watched Avatar a few days ago and enjoyed the film very much. One of the reasons I wanted to watch it, besides the hype from almost everyone I know who’ve seen it and who’ve gushed about it, is that lately I’ve seen many articles posted on the internet about Avatar that opine

Comments

[alexielnet]

That is a very good point. I remember in one of my linguistics classes we were discussing technology/surgery that would allow deaf people to hear and the objection to that was deafness is a difference, not a disability, so it should not be altered.

One interesting thing though: for a long time, dying your hair was also considered bad form. When home kits came out, a lot of the adverts for it were based on the idea that no one would be able to tell that it wasn't real, like it was some big secret. It was considered trashy--something hookers and dancers did. Now, it's generally not a big deal (at least for the general public). I don't know if attitudes will change, but there is a history of it.

[bastard_king]

Yeesh.. :(
Were any deaf people making that argument about difference vs. disability? Or were they unABLE, or perhaps DISallowed, from participating in this exchange of ideas via sound, without assistance? >_

[aussietiger]

Deafness being a difference, not a disability... now that's some retarded thinking right there. Surely if it's a 'natural difference' or whatever, such people would have been born without ears, as evolution would deem them unnecessary?

Should I take my glasses off, as my short-sightedness should not be altered because it's just a 'difference', and not a disability, thus forcing me to lose my driver's license?

Where does the madness end?

[soul_harvester]

If you think plastic surgery's bad, trying wearing glasses you don't need. People get really fucking angry sometimes...including accusations of being "ableist". People just like to complain.

Some good points in here.

[aussietiger]

Good read. *thumb up