'Popcorn Disabilities' Cover Reveal and Release Date
I'm going long, book long, on disability in film.
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If you’ve been on the site for a while you know all about Popcorn Disability, the series where I deconstruct disability tropes and stereotypes in the movies. Some might think me watching movies that I know will make me mad is a problem but, honestly, it gives me opportunities to let people know about disability in general. What better to show people why they should be offended by something? Not to mention I love being snarky about a movie as much as the next person.
Last year I sat down to write one of the most difficult books of my career (and I have two more coming after it). A book that looks at disabled tropes and stereotypes in the movies and, more importantly, how they make disabled viewers feel about themselves. There’s a reason disabled people have so much self-loathing. It’s because, for better or worse, movies have kind of told us to hate ourselves. Writing this book made me angry and sad, at times, but it was also highly cathartic examining how the movies I love, and love to hate, about disability have shaped my own conception of myself as a disabled person and, ultimately, what needs to change.
So, let’s unveil the cover of Popcorn Disabilities: The Highs and Lows of Disabled Representation in the Movies!
Have I mentioned I love this cover? And, yes, TCM host Ben Mankiewicz was kind enough to write my foreword. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and maybe look at some movies a little closer. Or at least realize why I get so angry when a hospital wheelchair pops up in the frame. I’ll be dropping more snippets of Popcorn Disabilities as we inch closer to its release date on November 13th! In the meantime, you can get a sneak peek by reading the piece I did on Harold Russell and The Best Years of Our Lives. Harold gets a lot of love in the book.
And I’ll also be revealing personal appearances and book signings as they happen, as well. You can pre-order the book now via Bloomsbury, and it should hit online retailers soon. (Honestly, I don’t care where you buy this. A sale is a sale to me!)
Pre-order Popcorn Disabilities now
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Oh congratulations! Also, this means it’s released on my birthday, hehe. Do you know if the UK release date will be the same? (For context, I’m the UK based wheelchair user performer/academic who asked if you’d be happy for me to review it for my newsletter.) Congratulations again 🩵