The Criterion Mobile Closet and Unequal Experiences
Separate and unequal is the name of the game for disabled access
We’ve all seen the videos of celebrities hitting up the Criterion Closet and picking out their favorite titles. And you’re not a movie fan worth their salt if you haven’t thought “God, I wish I could do that.” Well, on September 19 Criterion announced the Closet — which, depending on your expectations, is actually a van — would be going on the road and bringing the experience to film lovers in several select cities starting with the New York Film Festival.
While I won’t be attending NYFF I know many disabled film lovers in NYC who would like to see the exhibit, and I hoped to check it out myself if it eventually came to Los Angeles. So I asked the question online if the Criterion Mobile Closet would be a wheelchair accessible experience. I was quickly shown by a follower on X what is boldly stated on Criterion’s own website: that the experience is not wheelchair accessible.
Per the website: “Unfortunately, the Freightliner MT45 step van itself is not wheelchair accessible, but if you are unable to enter the Mobile Closet for accessibility reasons, we’ll still be happy to welcome you, and you’ll still get a tote bag, a pocket guide (while supplies last!), a Mobile Closet shopping discount, and a Polaroid at the Mobile Closet with your selections.”
Now, mind you, the entire experience according to Criterion is found in actually entering the Closet. Fans are told they can be treated to a personal walk through the Closet where a camera will record them picking out specific titles while you talk about why you love them, and after you pick out your selections you'll get a picture taken of yourself in the Closet. You know, like all the famous celebrities you know and love do.
But, if you’re disabled you get the privilege of getting some swag a Mobile Closet shopping discount (though, not sure how that works if you can’t physically enter the space) and a Polaroid at the Mobile Closet. Though, again, it’s not clear how that picture is getting taken if you can’t enter the Closet. I’m assuming disabled people will just their photo snapped next to a big van with some discs in their hand? Doesn’t exactly sound as cool when you say it.
And thus is the problem with how accessibility is treated in America (I haven’t been elsewhere so you can tell me if this is worldwide). The separate and unequal experience happens a lot and yet disabled people are so often told they should be grateful they can access these spaces at all. Is there a way Criterion could have crafted an accessible alternative experience. Sure. Some tiny set could be positioned on a ground level. Or a portable lift could have been crafted. Hell, if that’s not a possibility the entire time they’re around they could recommend disabled attendees schedule something ahead of time and do X amount of days as a disabled experience only.
The issue is what the experience is versus what disabled people are told to settle for. There’s expectations vs reality and there’s disabled expectations vs. reality. Our expectations are often a notch above “terrible” and the reality is usually far worse. The average person, regardless of ability, is going for the experience of being in the Closet. To think that disabled attendees don’t want that, and will settle for less, is ableist to the core.
I go to Disneyland a lot, and they’re generally the kings of alternative disabled experiences. If you can’t ride the Finding Nemo Subs, you can sit in a tricked out room that includes all the sights and sounds of being in the submarine without having to navigate tiny, winding stairs. It’s not the exact same experience but Disney does their damndest to make it as close as is realistically possible. And most time, able bodied people use it who might be claustrophobic or want to take infants on it. In that case, there is an awareness that while the disabled attendee is limited, that’s no reason to not give them the same experience as is humanly possible.
I’m disappointed in Criterion for setting things up this way but, more importantly, I’m disappointed for the disabled people who wanted to do this and will feel they have to settle for something being better than nothing. And that’s generally where we live as disabled people. There will be disabled people who utilize Criterion’s disabled experience and that’s totally fine! If you get something out of it, then that’s fantastic. But anytime a company decides to say “We’re not accessible at all” just gives more companies the right to do the bare minimum, or nothing at all.
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