"Disabled people are almost entirely absent from photographic genres or discussion because they are read as socially dead and as not having a role to play."
This was a quote taken from Hevey's article "Enfreakment of photography." The beginning of the quote speaks for itself. There aren't normally pictures of disabled people seen in magazines filled with beautiful models, or on the front cover of newspapers. This quote explains why this happens. It's because disabled people are seen as useless. One of the many definitions of disabled is "not whole." People see disabled people as not whole and they feel that they aren't able to fully contribute to society. That's how I interpret the quote.
In the quote Hevey mentions a "social death" which I think means basically having no part in society. Being disabled sets you apart from those who are whole and immediately makes it harder for you to fit in. In the Hevey's quote it says that "disabled people are read as." the key term to me in that sentence is "They are read as." This means that the disabled people might have completely normal personalities but because of how they are treated they are not able to have healthy social relationships with everyone. As a result of how they are seen by others and treated by others, they are not seen in photographic genres.
In one of the photographs shown on Claire's blog I believe it is the jewish giant and 2 other people looking up at him. The expression on the womens face is what gets me the most. It makes me think of the above quote because it makes me think that the jewish giant is stuck in a social death. Anytime he goes out in public people will look up at him like that. Because he is disabled he is stuck without choice in a social death that everyone around him unconsciously thinks. This is why you dont see disabled people in photographic genres.
-Brandon
I really like how you interpreted the term "social death" as having no part in society, being set apart from the crowd, and struggling to fit in simply because disabled people are not "as whole" as the average human being. I never thought of it that way, but I think it's an excellent explanation of the term! I also like how you referred to the Jewish Giant as being "stuck in a social death", because it is so true. Because he stands out, judgement is almost inevitable; it's a shame, but unfortunately what occurs in not only today's society, but all throughout history. Good job!
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