Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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On Dr Who's representation of blindness (self.Blind)
submitted by ScottSaw
Personally I thought it was absolutely dreadful. The doctor gets blinded for all of two and a third episodes, and it's only used to perpetuate his inconvenience: he needs to read a book containing a forbidden truth that leads everyone to commit suicide but can't and he gets himself locked into a laboratory with a deadly virus where his only means of escape is a code on the door. And then just by magic he's able to see again after making a deal with an alien species set on taking over earth through human compliance. Such a missed opportunity in my opinion, never used to show any advantage (except maybe when he turns off the lights in order to escape, but even then he has had to escape from something that a sighted person would have no issue with) and he gets his sight back with no issue. Did anyone enjoy it/ am I being overly cynical?
fastfinge 3 points 6y ago
We had another thread expressing similar thoughts last week: https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/6cez5l/the_bbc_blew_it_tonight/?utm_content=title&utm_medium=user&utm_source=reddit
Most of us feel the same way. :-)
Most of us feel the same way. :-)
awesomesaucesaywhat 4 points 6y ago
Awww my little rant
On the other hand, this week the doctor couldn't save himself because he couldn't see to enter a code on a combination lock. If only the lock has been accessible!
On the other hand, this week the doctor couldn't save himself because he couldn't see to enter a code on a combination lock. If only the lock has been accessible!
HailDaHailu 3 points 6y ago
I enjoyed the Doctor's representation. I made some long comments on that thread if that is OK, moderator u/fastfinge.
I also theorise that the Doctor's blindness isn't -gone, from a narrative and structure perspective. Not only that, but they didn't, to me, represent his blindness as weakness, it was the Doctor himself who did that. And this leads him into the problems he faces. And accepting it is the only thing that can save him.
I'll post a long-ish theory on why I think this after I gather up evidence. This ok? :)
I also theorise that the Doctor's blindness isn't -gone, from a narrative and structure perspective. Not only that, but they didn't, to me, represent his blindness as weakness, it was the Doctor himself who did that. And this leads him into the problems he faces. And accepting it is the only thing that can save him.
I'll post a long-ish theory on why I think this after I gather up evidence. This ok? :)
fastfinge 2 points 6y ago
Of course! All theories and comments are welcome. :-)
HailDaHailu 2 points 6y ago
Soo... fastfinge... what was the audio commentary of these episodes like (just so if the audio version has more evidence for my theory I can use that.)
Also, did it try and explain what the Doctor was 'seeing' with the 'green lines'?- At the veritas episode, I thought it was because he was detecting the game underneath all the visuals (just like screen reader software tells you quite a bit about the HTML of the website that a user not using screen readers wouldn't notice.) So it was green and stencilly game-like because the building blocks of the game world were like this... (while it showed 'stats' such as someone's height, age ect... IIRC...)
However, now with it in 'The Pyramid at the End of the World', I believe are these 'green lines' are only colour-coded for a sighted audience's convenience. No way he's 'seeing' anything. It's... info he can hear perhaps...
It seems able to pick up 'info on humans' and outlines of 'solid objects' but not computer screens - as shown when a sergeant offers him a tablet, in which he can't see anything - or - *dramatic music*... combination locks :)
Also, did it try and explain what the Doctor was 'seeing' with the 'green lines'?- At the veritas episode, I thought it was because he was detecting the game underneath all the visuals (just like screen reader software tells you quite a bit about the HTML of the website that a user not using screen readers wouldn't notice.) So it was green and stencilly game-like because the building blocks of the game world were like this... (while it showed 'stats' such as someone's height, age ect... IIRC...)
However, now with it in 'The Pyramid at the End of the World', I believe are these 'green lines' are only colour-coded for a sighted audience's convenience. No way he's 'seeing' anything. It's... info he can hear perhaps...
It seems able to pick up 'info on humans' and outlines of 'solid objects' but not computer screens - as shown when a sergeant offers him a tablet, in which he can't see anything - or - *dramatic music*... combination locks :)
fastfinge 2 points 6y ago
I actually don't know. The audio commentary is only available in the UK; when the BBC releases the show internationally, they never include the audio commentary. And I'm in Canada.
HailDaHailu 1 points 6y ago
It's done! Link to $1
garythevisionary 1 points 6y ago
I completely agree...it was incredibly insensitive and frivolous. I think they definitely missed an opportunity to show him in a better light,which they easily could have done. It makes me want to tune out of Dr. Who altogether.
HailDaHailu 1 points 6y ago
>escape from something that a sighted person would have no issue with
What? The Monks? Well... we did never see them attacking anyone other than the Doctor...
Because they kill everyone else with so-called 'consent', even in the game simulation they created. In such a game, they assume all the 'players' are playing 'willingly', and so can set them up against others/ against the clock.
And of course they turn non-consentors to dust, so there is that.
What? The Monks? Well... we did never see them attacking anyone other than the Doctor...
Because they kill everyone else with so-called 'consent', even in the game simulation they created. In such a game, they assume all the 'players' are playing 'willingly', and so can set them up against others/ against the clock.
And of course they turn non-consentors to dust, so there is that.
ScottSaw [OP] 2 points 6y ago
No escape from a laboratory that is opened by a combination lock
HailDaHailu 1 points 6y ago
> except maybe when he turns off the lights in order to escape, but even then he has had to escape from something that a sighted person would have no issue with
Oh, sorry, I assumed you meant the monks here... haha. :)
Oh, sorry, I assumed you meant the monks here... haha. :)
HailDaHailu 1 points 6y ago
Oh, that. Yes.
Over on r/doctor_who someone wondered whether his sonic sunglasses or whatever they are couldn't just take a picture of the combination lock to send to Bill. That should be a thing.
I agree that was stupid. But they could have set up another way that means the Doctor/ Bill repeats the mistake made at the monastery in Extremis - when he tried to return his sight and was both weakened and pursued by Monks for it. (and he still remained blind) A certain next episode trailer (called $1 tells me that a similar thing may happen, but on a world scale.
I'm writing a fan theory on the actually important role of the doctor's blindness and the possibility that it might not be ended... around 0:16 on that video it show the Doctor touching something, and yelling in agony with his eyes turning blue. There's also very faint images of the Monks in two scenes throughout Earth's timeline around him, which probably implies he's in their temple.
Over on r/doctor_who someone wondered whether his sonic sunglasses or whatever they are couldn't just take a picture of the combination lock to send to Bill. That should be a thing.
I agree that was stupid. But they could have set up another way that means the Doctor/ Bill repeats the mistake made at the monastery in Extremis - when he tried to return his sight and was both weakened and pursued by Monks for it. (and he still remained blind) A certain next episode trailer (called $1 tells me that a similar thing may happen, but on a world scale.
I'm writing a fan theory on the actually important role of the doctor's blindness and the possibility that it might not be ended... around 0:16 on that video it show the Doctor touching something, and yelling in agony with his eyes turning blue. There's also very faint images of the Monks in two scenes throughout Earth's timeline around him, which probably implies he's in their temple.
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