YorkSpace
York University's Institutional Repository
    • English
    • français
  • English 
    • English
    • français
  • Login
View Item 
  •   YorkSpace Home
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
  • Critical Disability Studies
  • View Item
  •   YorkSpace Home
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies
  • Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
  • Critical Disability Studies
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Chatter that Matters: A New Path to Progressive Understandings of Disability Through the Online Discussion of Popular Novels

Thumbnail
View/Open
Rankin_Joanna_C_2014_Phd.pdf (2.518Mb)
Date
2015-08-28
Author
Rankin, Joanna Caitlin

Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
Looking to the novel as a source of information for real lives, this paper investigates the role of the popular culture book club and the informal discussion of novels in the recognition of and response to disability in contemporary society. Reviewing the books chosen for the Oprah’s Book Club as well as readers’ online posts about characters with disabilities are considered in this research. The online, middlebrow discussion of novels is assessed as a productive and developing public sphere related to the discussion of disability. Within this context readers demonstrate their interest in and ability to challenge ideas about disability. This research identifies three key areas which encourage the development of progressive dialogue around this topic including: (a) providing a challenge to traditional literary authority allowing for new and innovative ideas, (b) the recognition of the significant role of emotion and the emotional connection of readers’ with fictional characters, including characters with disabilities, and finally (c) the frequently overlooked existence of discussion surrounding disability within this sphere and the acknowledgment of the social role of disability by readers.
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10315/29925
Collections
  • Critical Disability Studies

All items in the YorkSpace institutional repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved except where explicitly noted.

YorkU LogoContact Us | Send Feedback
Sitemap for search engines

 

Browse

All of YorkSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

LoginRegister

Statistics

View Usage Statistics

All items in the YorkSpace institutional repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved except where explicitly noted.

YorkU LogoContact Us | Send Feedback
Sitemap for search engines