Art, activism and disability are the starting point for what unfolds as a funny and intimate portrait of 5 individuals. Director Bonnie Sherr Klein (Not a Love Story and Speaking Our Peace) has been a pioneer of women’s cinema. SHAMELESS: The ART of Disability marks Klein's return to a career interrupted by a catastrophic stroke in 1987. She turns the lens on the world of disability culture and the transformative power of art. Joining Klein are a group of artists with diverse (dis)abilities. Humorist David Roche is taking his one-man show, The Church of 80% Sincerity, to New York’s off-Broadway. …
Have
students examine how literature and the media represent the disabled and
reflect society’s attitudes; explore classic archetypes, such as the Phantom,
the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, and others. Discuss the
reasons for these and whether society is changing. Suggest alternatives that
would reflect a more open attitude. Media students can study the documentary’s
influence on the audience, explaining the significance of the title and how
the story is told.