On August 26, 2013, I watched the movie "Strangers in Town" 1988. It was a movie about albinos. The movie is very short in length. It is a documentary about the personal lives of a handful of people born with albino-ism. Each person gave a glimpse of their hardships and how they dealt with it.
If one would analyze this movie through the Communication Model (van der Pol, 2007) then this movie would be flipped over. For example, instead of focusing on the disabilities and the handicaps (as mentioned in the movie), the movie would focus on the bio-psycho-social aspects of the individual being interviewed. For example, I believe that each of the individuals with albino-ism had something very positive to contribute to society. I would have focused on the positive things that the individuals actually accomplished, and where the albino-ism would become a footnote in the person's life. One of the participants in the movie talked about his tattoos, and how, when he revealed them the focus was no longer on his albino-ism, but instead on the graphics of the tattoo.
Furthermore there were also two other examples of two individuals with albino-ism: both had very good careers despite their albino-ism. Both of them talked about how other people in their lives supported them and it was through this support which really helped them go further in life.
What I would have liked, would have been if these individuals would have steered the focus onto themselves. Through self-examination - for example, instead of finding the support from external sources, find the inspiration from within.
Another component which I found somewhat disturbing was the fact that one of the albinos (as he referenced to himself as) was trying really hard to find a so-called "cure" to his albino-ism. The words of being different were mentioned on numerous times, however the words "being different" were used in a very derogatory way. I do not believe that there is anything wrong with being different. In fact, I think being different is a good thing.
Another person with albino-ism said that he could not find work, that instead he created his own business. This is a story of triumph, however it was portrayed in a very victimizing way.As if he had absolutely no idea that leading and following ones own path is not one of defeat, but instead one of power.
Written by Annuska van der Pol, Victoria, British Columbia Canada
If one would analyze this movie through the Communication Model (van der Pol, 2007) then this movie would be flipped over. For example, instead of focusing on the disabilities and the handicaps (as mentioned in the movie), the movie would focus on the bio-psycho-social aspects of the individual being interviewed. For example, I believe that each of the individuals with albino-ism had something very positive to contribute to society. I would have focused on the positive things that the individuals actually accomplished, and where the albino-ism would become a footnote in the person's life. One of the participants in the movie talked about his tattoos, and how, when he revealed them the focus was no longer on his albino-ism, but instead on the graphics of the tattoo.
Furthermore there were also two other examples of two individuals with albino-ism: both had very good careers despite their albino-ism. Both of them talked about how other people in their lives supported them and it was through this support which really helped them go further in life.
What I would have liked, would have been if these individuals would have steered the focus onto themselves. Through self-examination - for example, instead of finding the support from external sources, find the inspiration from within.
Another component which I found somewhat disturbing was the fact that one of the albinos (as he referenced to himself as) was trying really hard to find a so-called "cure" to his albino-ism. The words of being different were mentioned on numerous times, however the words "being different" were used in a very derogatory way. I do not believe that there is anything wrong with being different. In fact, I think being different is a good thing.
Another person with albino-ism said that he could not find work, that instead he created his own business. This is a story of triumph, however it was portrayed in a very victimizing way.As if he had absolutely no idea that leading and following ones own path is not one of defeat, but instead one of power.
Written by Annuska van der Pol, Victoria, British Columbia Canada