Cultures of Representation

This groundbreaking collection offers the first global examination of disability representation in world cinema, spanning films from Belgium to Senegal, Iran to Mexico. Contributors analyze both classic and contemporary works from over a dozen countries, creating a truly international perspective on how disability appears on screen across different cultural contexts. The volume spans from 1950 to present day, anchored by David T. Mitchell and Sharon L. Snyder's crucial essay on global disability-film festivals that frames the entire project.

What makes this work essential is its refusal to default to Western perspectives, instead presenting disability cinema as a truly global conversation with distinct cultural voices. Film students and disability studies scholars will find invaluable insights here, particularly through the diverse case studies that reveal how different societies construct disability through visual storytelling. This collection fundamentally expands our understanding of representation beyond Hollywood's limited portrayals, making it a vital resource for anyone interested in cinema's power to shape cultural perceptions of human difference.