What does it mean to be different?
To be out of the Ordinary?
To not conform to what society believes?
Or in relation to I am Sam and the book, “The man who mistook his wife for a hat”, refers to a disability. A disability that determines their lives, not because of the illness itself, but rather the challenges associated with the prejudice and stigma surrounding it and although Sam Dawson and Dr P differ in their disability, their stories share similarities which ultimately serve to highlight the struggles of prejudice as unnecessary by proving what they are capable of.
Meet Sam Dawson. Told he has the intellectual capacity of a 7 yr old. Told by the Child and Family Services he’s incapable of caring for his daughter. Yet it’s evident Sam’s disability shows no sign of impeding his ability to love and care for his daughter and has only strengthened it, “nobody else’s daddy ever comes to the park”. The characterisation of Rita only reinforces his disability and serves to be Sam’s first challenge in proving prejudice wrong. Introduced as the stereotypical top notch lawyer she sees his disability as a liability, treating Sam less than her “the fact that you’re retarded”, the use of low angle shots to suggest a contrast in power. However she’s emotionally unstable, can’t parent her own son nor meet expectations but as she …show more content…
Society portrays them as weak, incapable, feared and to be cared for like a child. Yet through the use of characterisation and perspective, Sam Dawson and Dr P who differ in their disability both challenge this same notion. They are strong, are responsible and capable, are loved and cared for by others, and both find strength in adversity through parental love or music allowing them to live fulfilling lives. Yes there are challenges to being different, but we fail to acknowledge its benefits too. Leave behind the prejudice for something
To be out of the Ordinary?
To not conform to what society believes?
Or in relation to I am Sam and the book, “The man who mistook his wife for a hat”, refers to a disability. A disability that determines their lives, not because of the illness itself, but rather the challenges associated with the prejudice and stigma surrounding it and although Sam Dawson and Dr P differ in their disability, their stories share similarities which ultimately serve to highlight the struggles of prejudice as unnecessary by proving what they are capable of.
Meet Sam Dawson. Told he has the intellectual capacity of a 7 yr old. Told by the Child and Family Services he’s incapable of caring for his daughter. Yet it’s evident Sam’s disability shows no sign of impeding his ability to love and care for his daughter and has only strengthened it, “nobody else’s daddy ever comes to the park”. The characterisation of Rita only reinforces his disability and serves to be Sam’s first challenge in proving prejudice wrong. Introduced as the stereotypical top notch lawyer she sees his disability as a liability, treating Sam less than her “the fact that you’re retarded”, the use of low angle shots to suggest a contrast in power. However she’s emotionally unstable, can’t parent her own son nor meet expectations but as she …show more content…
Society portrays them as weak, incapable, feared and to be cared for like a child. Yet through the use of characterisation and perspective, Sam Dawson and Dr P who differ in their disability both challenge this same notion. They are strong, are responsible and capable, are loved and cared for by others, and both find strength in adversity through parental love or music allowing them to live fulfilling lives. Yes there are challenges to being different, but we fail to acknowledge its benefits too. Leave behind the prejudice for something