In today’s lesson, we explored how Murderball constructs and invites specific representations of groups of people.

Think about:

• How hyper masculinity and hegemonic masculinity are constructed by the text.
• Consider how the ‘chair stories’ invite a specific response  to the construction of masculinity though their risk-taking behaviour. Remember that Hogsett was thrown off a balcony during a fight, Zupan and Cohen were involved in car accidents.
• Consider what the text has to say about a rejection of an ableist society. Remember that ableism is the discrimination/prejudice against people who are disabled based on the belief that typical abilities are superior.
• Consider how the text rejects the ‘inspiration porn’ idea which we explored when we looked at Stella Young’s Ted Talk.
• Consider how the women in the documentary are constructed as subordinate. Zupan’s girlfriend could be consider something of a trophy/status symbol by the way she’s shot in her bikini and the way in which he physically subordinates her. Also the woman who is the ‘victim’ of the practical joke at the Olympics. Joe’s wife when they have their anniversary meal.
• Think about how Keith Cavill is constructed as vulnerable, weak, dependent and how his construction contrasts that of the athletes.

These are some of the dominant ideas constructed by the text. You may well think of some further ones.