[nabs-l] Romanticisation of Blindness

[Jason Mandarino]

My aim is not to be pessimistic in this, but to merely point out the reality
that even in the social constructs of romantic humor; blindness is still not
taken seriously. I was thinking through many of the saying that I have
heard, especially in light of what Andi had to point out. As one well
embracing of the twenty-first century, I found the following through google.

But to preface such a comment, we must realize that expressions of blindness
are aimed towards ignorance and not competence. So although we may be blind,
it would not be profitable for us to love as blind, not in the sense that
sighted people deem their definition. 

Love is blind

Origin

This was coined by Shakespeare and was quite a favorite line of his. It
appears in several of his plays, including Two Gentlemen of Verona, Henry V
and
The Merchant Of Venice. For example, this piece from The Merchant Of Venice:
Block quote start

JESSICA: Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains.
I am glad 'tis night, you do not look on me,
For I am much ashamed of my exchange:
But love is blind and lovers cannot see
The pretty follies that themselves commit;
For if they could, Cupid himself would blush
To see me thus transformed to a boy.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Jedi
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 10:03 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Romanticisation of Blindness

Or the opposite: blindness becomes this incredible sob story.
Original message:
> Jim,

> I don't think this is quite what people are referring to.  When
> someone romanticizes blindness, they often make it look far easier to
> be blind than it is.  A particularly overused clitche is to give the
> blind individual special "superpowers" arising from their blindness.

> For example, about five years ago, there was a movie produced called
> Daredevil.  The protagonist of the film was a blind vidgulantee.  This
> man, using only the senses of hearing/smell/touch could stalk
> criminals across the rooftops of buildings in the dead of night, and
> was a very accurate knifethrower seeing as he couldn't see his
> targets.  This is the type of scenario people are referring to when
> they speak of romanticizing blindness.  Hth
> Courtney

> On 4/23/09, Jim Reed <jim275_2 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Hey,

>> Does romanticisation of blindness have anything to do with
>> dependence/interdependence? In romances, relationships, and family, there
is
>> a certian amout of interdependence among the lovebirds. is it because
blind
>> people are already closer to dependency than others, that we are some how
>> inherently more qualified for a relationship? Or is it based on society's
>> view of romance that one partner strives to take care of the other (ie.
the
>> man as the "bread winner"), thus there is a natural tendanc to view blind
>> people in a similar light, that we need/want to be taken care of like the
>> helpless housewife (put away your claws ladies, I;m not suggesting women
are
>> helpless or need/want to be taken cvare of).
>> Ive never been good at philosopy.

>> Jim

>> "Ignorance killed the cat; curiosity was framed."



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-- 
REspectfully,
Jedi

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