Why These Shows?

These two shows were chosen with the major theme of rehabilitation in mind, as we hoped to comment upon the similarities and differences between cosmetic and psychological deviances as represented in reality television.

The rehabilitation occurring in “Intervention” appears as an integral part of the show’s plot, however, we hoped to connect this notion to a discourse of rehabilitative and productive citizenship within “the ‘medical’ model [of disability which we see] as discriminatory, because it immediately places disability in a category of a deviance or illness that needs to be cured” (Disability 7). We seek to expand this discourse of the addicted body as one in need of being cured and to discuss its positionality as a body that threatens the livelihood of itself, both physically and within neoliberalist understandings of the productive body.

The theme of rehabilitation is applicable when viewing the reality makeover show “TRANSform Me” as this television show reconstructs the non-disabled subject as one that is “disabled” through situating them within a discourse of ugliness. Such a discourse purports the notion that when the bar is set “low for the tolerance of anything but the nubile and blemish free, it is nearly impossible for a culture to directly face genuine disability” (Disability 72). “TRANSform Me” is specifically pertinent in this discussion of rehabilitation as it connotes which type of person is capable and desired for a cure, as well as who is desired to conduct a cure for such a culturally constructed cosmetic “disability.”

We would also like to discuss the aspect of spectacle and freakery within reality television, as well as within the interaction between the viewer and the viewed. This can be better understood as “the repulsion society feels for people with disabilities outside the theater…expresses an inner fear of brokenness and fragility,” which might “partly explain why there is a fascination with disability when viewed from the safety of a picture theatre. It is a detached way of confronting our fears of public shame and inner weakness” (Disability 72).