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Cripping the Screen: Reframing Temporality in Media Narratives Through the Lens of Crip Time
- 1 University of the Arts London
- 2 The University of Leeds
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study explores disability theory of time—an important concept emerging from the field of disability research—and advocates for disrupting the normative framework to reconstruct the cognition of time—and to reconstruct the form of contemporary film and television narratives. Traditional film and television narratives often follow linear temporal logic, emphasizing the achievement of goals and the resolution of contradictions. This model tends to exclude the disabled experience that cannot be accommodated. By analyzing five film and television works (“Camp for the Disabled,” “Special,” “Peanut Butter Falcon,” “Casual,” and “Diddy”), this article reveals how discontinuous timelines, open endings, and flexible narrative rhythms challenge established paradigms. Combining text analysis and a mixed-method audience survey (with 152 valid samples), the study focuses on the interactive relationship between image aesthetic strategies and audience feedback. The data show that there are significant differences between disabled and non-disabled audiences in terms of scene resonance, emotional immersion, and narrative satisfaction. The research revealed that time spent with people with disabilities is not only a tool for artistic expression but also a key avenue for reconstructing the creative paradigm. By emphasizing interpersonal relationships, uncertainty, and real-life experiences, it offers new possibilities for breaking the inertia of traditional narratives. This research result expands the cross-disciplinary dimension of media studies and disability theory, advocating for the establishment of a more inclusive temporal narrative system in creative practice.
Keywords
crip time, disability studies, narrative temporality, media aesthetics, audience reception
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Cite this article
Ren,Z.;Zhang,X. (2025). Cripping the Screen: Reframing Temporality in Media Narratives Through the Lens of Crip Time. Communications in Humanities Research,69,34-39.
Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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Volume title: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Literature, Language, and Culture Development
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