Dr. Angela Marie Smith Receives 2024 Tobin Siebers Prize for Disability Studies in the Humanities
The University of Michigan Press has awarded the 2024 Tobin Siebers Prize for Disability Studies in the Humanities to Affecting Disability on American Screens, a groundbreaking manuscript by Associate Professor Angela Marie Smith. This prestigious annual prize recognizes an outstanding proposed book-length manuscript that addresses critical issues in disability studies.
About Affecting Disability on American Screens
Dr. Smith’s manuscript critically examines the persistent, formulaic, and ableist portrayals of disability in mainstream media. She applies affective and disability theories to analyze a broad range of visual media, from early cinema to contemporary digital platforms. The book explores how emotions and physical movements assigned to disabled figures, along with the special effects used to depict disability, shape audience perceptions and reinforce entrenched stereotypes.
Expressing her gratitude, Dr. Smith shared, “I am absolutely thrilled to receive the Tobin Siebers Prize for my book manuscript! My work and teaching have been deeply influenced by the books in the press’s disability series, Corporealities, and especially by the works of the late Tobin Siebers, an incredibly insightful disability scholar, as well as the contributions of series editors David T. Mitchell and Sharon L. Snyder.”
A key focus of Dr. Smith’s research is Siebers’ concept of “disability masquerade,” which highlights the pressure disabled individuals face to either conceal or exaggerate their disabilities for social acceptance. She also examines “disability drag,” the often-exaggerated portrayals of disability by non-disabled actors, as a recurring issue in media. Her analysis spans silent-era films, Oscar-winning productions, blockbuster special-effects films, zombie TV series, and disability documentaries, identifying common patterns in physical movements, character arcs, and cinematic techniques that evoke, often negative, emotional responses from viewers.
However, Dr. Smith’s work also challenges these conventional narratives. She highlights the contributions of disabled performers as actors, stunt professionals, stand-ins, and consultants, arguing that their presence disrupts stereotypes and reshapes how disability is represented on screen. “Cinema depends on disability as a means of showcasing actors’ and filmmakers’ abilities to simulate.” said Dr. Smith. “But disabled performers have the power to challenge these conventions, offering new ways to understand disability through their performances.”.
Dr. Smith’s scholarship pushes the boundaries of disability studies, media analysis, and representation in film. As she prepares for the publication of Affecting Disability on American Screens, her work stands as a testament to the lasting influence of Tobin Siebers and the ongoing efforts to reshape how disability is perceived in media and society.
For more information about the award and Dr. Smith’s forthcoming book, visit University of Michigan Press.