Introduction

This section starts off by looking at the history of representation of disability in moving image media – from the beginning of filmmaking at the turn of the century to today. The following sections address representations and treatment of disabled people in commercial films, television and in Bollywood films. To contrast these representations in mainstream moving image media, the last section features discussion of all the short films and film clips on the 'bfi Disabling Imagery? DVD'. These are made by disabled filmmakers or try to express in moving imagery the experience of a particular impairment and therefore allow disability to be seen from some highly original and different perspectives.