Rachel Clemett
How Do Sound Design and Music in Screen Media Reinforce or Challenge Dominant Disability Narratives, Particularly in Relation to Chronic Illness and Invisible Disabilities?
This study examines the role of sound design and music in shaping the representation of disability in historical and contemporary screen media, with a focus on chronic illness and invisible disabilities. Central to this inquiry is the concept of sonic dissonance—the divergence between expected and actual sound—which often serves to reinforce societal biases by evoking discomfort, pity, or fear.
Through an interdisciplinary lens, the research explores how sound is used to perpetuate or challenge the Medical Model of disability, which frames disability as an individual defect. In genres like horror and drama, auditory elements often portray disabled bodies as ‘other,’ heightening negative emotional responses and reinforcing stereotypes. Conversely, this study investigates whether sound design and music can subvert these narratives, providing agency and fostering nuanced representations.
By integrating perspectives from Medical Ethnomusicology, disability studies, and media studies, this research illuminates how auditory cues condition audience perceptions of disability. Using a mixed-methods approach, it combines textual analysis, participatory research, and creative multimedia practices to examine how sonic representations affect cultural narratives, public attitudes, and the lived experiences of disabled individuals. This project aims to foster a deeper understanding of sound’s potential to transform societal views on disability, contributing to more inclusive media practices.
Teaching and learning
I have a Joint Honours first class BA in Music and Philosophy as well as a MA Music and Audiovisual media with a distinction. I have worked as a University Liverpool Advocate in schools across Liverpool ranging from primary to sixth-form during my masters. Furthermore, teaching GCSE and A level music to privately tutored students as well as instrumental lessons in voice, piano and flute. I have also worked as an exam invigilator.
Outputs
COSME 2024 - Awarded Best Paper - "Hearing is Believing - Beyond the Jumpscare: Disability, Analog Horror, and the Sonic Shadows of the Uncanny Valley"
Supervisors
Dr Jacqueline Waldock, Professor Bethan Evans