Part 9/13:
Other instances include sitcoms like Seinfeld, where George gets a cane and manipulates disability stereotypes for comic effect. Such portrayals can diminish the complexity of real-life experiences of disabled individuals but are often accepted for entertainment’s sake.
The Problem of 'Faking' Disabilities
The conversation also touches on how disability is sometimes faked or exaggerated in media for narrative convenience—a process that can lead to misrepresentation. Examples include actors who are not genuinely disabled portraying disabled characters, which critics argue perpetuates insincerity. Debates about whether certain disabilities, like vitiligo, qualify as impairments or merely skin conditions illustrate how the line between authentic experience and fiction can blur.