Stereotyped Representations of Disability in Film and Television: A Critical Review of Narrative Media

Film and television play a key role in shaping cultural perceptions of disability, yet they often rely on recurring stereotypes that may reinforce stigma and exclusion. While schol-arly interest in this issue has grown, academic literature remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This critical review examines how disability is represented through stereotypical portrayals in narrative audiovisual media, specifically scripted films and television series. It synthesizes peer-reviewed studies that explicitly analyze these representations and their narrative or sociocultural functions. The review identifies dominant tropes, theoretical frameworks, and disciplinary approaches while offering a qualitative synthesis of key trends and findings. Although persistent stereotypes remain prevalent, the review also highlights a growing presence of more inclusive and complex portrayals that challenge traditional norms. By providing a structured overview of exist-ing research, this study contributes to a better academic understanding of how disability is portrayed on screen and supports efforts to foster more inclusive and accurate repre-sentations in popular media.