"Bending over Backwards: Disability, Dismodernism, and
Other Difficult Positions" comprises nine distinct essays, providing a
comprehensive exploration of the author-activist's evolving thoughts on
disability, disability studies, and literary historical criticism. The
collection spans diverse topics, including the human genome project, ADA court
cases, concepts of citizenship, the history of the novel, homosexuality,
postmodernist theory, the rise of Disability Studies, and more. As part of
NYU's Cultural Fronts series, which aims to highlight works of cultural
criticism with policy implications, the book is not exclusively intended for
historians but offers creative and challenging insights that can benefit the
field, particularly disability historians.
Central to Davis's argument is the transformative potential
of disability as a category of identity, challenging postmodern notions of
identity. Rooted in his earlier works, such as "Enforcing Normalcy"
and "The Disability Studies Reader," Davis delves into the social,
scientific, and linguistic processes shaping the meaning of
"disability." His personal reflections in works like "Shall I
Say a Kiss" and "My Sense of Silence" provide poignant images of
living as/with Deaf individuals, combining theoretical frameworks from Jacques
Lacan and Michel Foucau with personal narratives.
While the book primarily compiles previously published
pieces, reflecting Davis's internal dialogues since their release, it
highlights a substantial evolution in understanding. Davis emphasizes the
omnipresence of disability, urging scholars to consider its potential for
reshaping academic and practical definitions of identity and status.
Several chapters revisit arguments from Davis's earlier
works, notably the assertion that the nineteenth century marked a shift from
ideals to norms, exemplified by the rise of eugenics. The book extends these
ideas, linking disability to legal systems, American politics, the environment,
technology, and the economy. Davis introduces "dismodernism" as an
alternative to identity politics and social constructionism, proposing that
disability transcends and supplants traditional postmodernist classifiers of
race, class, and gender. Davis contends that disability's fluidity as a
category allows Disability Studies to offer a broad critique of contemporary
systems of oppression.
The introduction, "People with Disability: They Are
You," goes beyond typical disability theory scholarship, asserting that
disability directly and indirectly influences everyone. Davis advocates for a
broader civil rights mandate through dismodernism, aligning protections across
all classes. He contends that impairment is the rule, normalcy is a fantasy,
and universal design should guide social and political structures.
Chapters of particular interest to disability historians
include "The End of Identity Politics and the Beginning of
Dismodernism," which explores parallels between historical expressions of
minority identities, and "Bending over Backwards," providing a
detailed analysis of the Americans with Disabilities Act and specific ADA court
cases. The latter chapter delves into legal texts, emphasizing the framing of
cultural norms within documents and judicial decisions.
Davis's attention to economic factors compounding disability
experiences is appreciated, shedding light on the intricate ties between class
circumstances and disability. Examples illustrate the prevalence of genetic
testing in affluent societies and the socioeconomic challenges faced by people
with disabilities.
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