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After class I started thinking about the fetishism of disability in comparison with various other fetishized groups. 

This is a picture of a group of primordial dwarves appearing on the Tyra Banks show where they recieve makeovers and iPod minis.  It seems to me like television shows featuring people who are in some way disabled are becoming more and more common (probably because TLC seems to develop a new one every month).  Is it possible for a television show, which is by nature so higly commodified, to be anything other than exploitative.   This type of show is typicaly framed sensitively, often the subjects are shown saying something about how grateful they are to be given an arena to show who they are as people and shed some light on what living with their disability is like.  Still, something about this type of programming seems like a modern version of a freak show, revamped so that the observer is free to gawk privately.  

Also, did you know that at some bars you can pay to toss a dwarf wearing a velcro costume onto a velcro pad?  Its called midget tossing.  I've been thinking about the relationship between this and other activities in which the body is the spectacle i.e. stripping. 

I am still thinking about both of those things and about fetishization more generally, my thoughts are still not fully formed.  I am curious to know what you all think/feel.