The Inbertweenrs – Disability In The Media

The Imbertweenrs – Disability In The Media

Why is the clip funny?

The reason that this clip is funny is because of the mixture shock and surprise. As soon as Will gets the idea to try and impress the girls by throwing the Frisbee, in true Inbetweeners fashion the viewer can already tell can something’s is going to go wrong but it’s the manor of how the situation turns ugly which is so surprising. The fact that it is will who throws the Frisbee, the most ‘Innocent’ of the four, makes the clip even more humorous since we wouldn’t expect a situation to occur because of him.  Also, the way that the situation transforms from bad to worse when will tries to take back his Frisbee whilst explaining his sorrow adds another layer of humor as it casts Will in much darker light than he was in before. In many ways, its not even the disabled girls that makes the clip funny, the pure awkwardness of the clip and the reaction of Will that really makes the clip funny.

How is the disabled girl being represented?

The disabled girl in this clip is being represented in a humorous sense and is one of the key elements that make this clip both funny and awkward. She is also represented very child-like and helpless in tat specific situation.

Are we meant to laugh at the disabled person?

I don’t think that in this clip specifically, we are meant to laugh at the disabled person. Even though the inclusion of a disabled person limitedly makes the clip funnier, I feel it’s the entire situation and the awkwardness of Will that is funny.

Are they the ‘butt’ of the joke?

I personally don’t think that that the disabled character in this clip is the ‘butt’ of the joke. I do however think that the scenario that Will ahs found him in is the ‘butt’ of the joke. The whole situation is really what the joke is and is simply made funnier by the inclusion of the disabled person and would not be the same joke without her.

How do you think disabled people respond to this?

I think that there would be a mixture of emotional responses about this specific clip. I feel that there would be some disabled people who would understand that they were not being mocked in the clip and that a disabled character was used to intensify the awkwardness of the clip and how will reacts to hat he has done. On the other hand however, I fell that some disabled people may not be ok with how a disabled person is shown and used in this clip. They ay easily see it as an attempt to mock disabled people or ‘use’ them to make the clip funny.

Are we as a society cultivated to think that we should pity the disabled?

I think that from a young age we are not taught necessarily to pity the disabled, but more like we are taught to maybe show a bit more respect for the disabled try and understand that even though they do have a disability, they are just the same as anyone else. As we get older, we are able to understand the reasons behind why people are disabled. I feel that in modern times we as a society focus less on pitying the disabled and feeling bad for them and instead trying to improve their living standards and possibilities in life. An example of this is the continues installation of wheelchair access to many buildings.