Book Cover Imagery: A Remaining Area of Unconscious Devaluation

Book Covers – A Remaining Area of Unconsciousness of Image Issues

Paul Williams (Trowbridge, UK. paulgwilliams@btinternet.com)

The extent of negative imagery of disabled people in the past has long been recognised. There is a literature on this, some of it from long ago, for example Wolfensberger and Thomas (1982) from a Social Role Valorisation perspective, and Barnes (1992) from a Social Model of Disability perspective.

Today there is much more recognition of the need for the promotion of positive imagery. The influence of consciousness-raising on this issue through promotion of SRV and other similar means has been seen in charity advertising, where positive images of activity and contribution have replaced the old images of pity, tragedy and childishness. Another area of great change can be seen in imagery in people's living environments, where art work and real life photographs, chosen by people themselves, have replaced the once prevalent images imposed on people of monkeys, donkeys and clowns.

However, one area where consciousness seems to be poor is in the imagery on the covers of books.

This article will focus on images of learning difficulty, but I will start with a few examples from the field of physical impairment.

What on earth is this cover intended to convey?

Watson, N. and Vehmas, S. (2020) Routledge Handbook of Disability Studies, 2nd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.

Is this a dead body?

Oliver, M. (2009) Understanding Disability – From Theory to Practice, 2nd edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

How about a seagull with one leg?

Davis, L. (2017) The Disability Studies Reader, 5th edn. Abingdon: Routledge.

The following image is probably intended to represent perceptions of people with learning disabilities in history and in different cultures, for example as invisible or childlike. But why reproduce these negative perceptions on the cover? I think people will see the words ‘Intellectual Disability’ alongside an image of a brainless, childish airhead!

Walmsley, J. and Jarrett, S. (2019) Intellectual Disability in the Twentieth Century – Transnational Perspectives on People, Policy, and Practice. Bristol: Policy Press.

A balloon image indicates childishness and emptiness. Here is another book whose cover uses that imagery:

Jahoda, A., Kroese, B. and Pert, C. (2017) Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for People with Intellectual Disabilities – Thinking Creatively. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

And here is another one with the head missing:

Poe, C. (2019) How To Be Autistic. Brighton: Myriad Editions.

Jigsaws (with the connotation of ‘a bit missing’) are found:

Gopalan, R. (2019) Developmental Challenges and Societal Issues for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Hershey, Pennsylvania: IGI Global.

Gates, B. and Mafuba, K. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing – Modern Day Practice. Abingdon: Routledge.

And wobbly or shivering heads:

Kelly, A. (2001) Working with Adults with a Learning Disability. Abingdon: Routledge.

Even death imagery can be found. On this cover, what appears at first sight to be a helpful image of art by a person with learning disability, turns out to be a picture of a dead person with the caption ‘Her body will lie in the Chamber of Horrors’!

Webb, J. (2014) A Guide to Psychological Understanding of People with Learning Disabilities – Eight Domains and Three Stories. Abingdon: Routledge.

Sometimes a clear opportunity for positive imagery is missed. Here are two examples of where a highly positive image could have been chosen, but a neutral design has been adopted instead:

Rogers, C. (2016) Intellectual Disability and Being Human – A Care Ethics Model. Abingdon: Routledge.

Nind, M. and Strnadova, I. (2020) Belonging for People with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities – Pushing the Boundaries of Inclusion. Abingdon: Routledge.

There are many books on learning disability that have positive imagery on the cover. Often these depict real people. Here are two examples:

Lacey, P., Ashdown, R., Jones, P., Lawson, H. and Pipe, M. (2015) The Routledge Companion to Severe, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. Abingdon: Routledge.

Gates, B., Fearns, D. and Welch, J. (2015) Learning Disability Nursing at a Glance. Chichester: Wiley.

Historical accounts may well describe bad experiences of people, but these can still be illustrated in a positive way with connotations of resilience and survivorhood, as in these examples:

Brigham, L., Atkinson, D., Jackson, M., Rolph, S. and Walmsley, J. (2000) Crossing Boundaries – Change and Continuity in the History of Learning Disability. Kidderminster: BILD Publications.

Atkinson, D., Jackson, M. and Walmsley, J. (1997) Forgotten lives: Exploring the History of Learning Disability. Kidderminster: BILD Publications.

Book cover designers may be quite unconscious of the image issues involved. They are likely to choose images that they think will sell the book, rather than those that enhance (or avoid damaging) the public perception of disabled people. I hope we can be wary of this and protest and educate where necessary. Certainly as authors we should strictly avoid collusion in unnecessary negative portrayals of those we support and work with.

References: Barnes, C. (1992) Disabling Imagery and the Media. Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire: Ryburn Publishing.

Wolfensberger, W. and Thomas, S. (1982) The importance of social imagery in interpreting societally devalued people to the public. Rehabilitation Literature, Vol.43, pp356-358.