Review: My Tropey Life: How Pop Culture Stereotypes Make Disabled Lives Harder

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My Tropey Life: How Pop Culture Stereotypes Make Disabled Lives Harder by Annie Carl (Microcosm Publishing, 2020)

This eye-opening essay in zine form is a must-read for creatives thinking about diversity and representation in their chosen medium. In well researched and lively prose, writer and bookseller Annie Carl lays out what it’s like to be disabled in America today: better than in the past but still frustratingly far from full inclusion.

Carl focuses most of the essay on common harmful pop culture tropes: “Cure,” in which inspiring disabled characters overcome against all odds and return to able-bodied form; “Kill,” in which disabled characters sacrifice themselves either for the good of an able-bodied character or because going on disabled is unbearable; and “Horror,” in which disabled characters are presented as monsters and freaks.

She shares many examples from popular books and movies to illustrate each trope, then ties it all back to fear of aging and death. In a culture that worships youth and beauty, anything that threatens those is terrifying: aging and the associated loss of function; disability due to whatever cause; and inevitable mortality. The essay includes some interesting developments in this moment of COVID-19, such as work-from-home arrangements, and ongoing issues with accessibility, health care, and insurance. It wraps up on a happier note, celebrating recent instances of positive representation in popular culture and a call for more of that.

This is a short read and well worth the time for anyone who enjoys and/or creates popular culture. It has given me a lot to think about as I consider the abilities—and disabilities—of my fictional characters and how to present them as fully human beings.

Annie Carl is the proprietor of The Neverending Bookshop, located in Perrinville, WA. She has been bookselling since her wee teen years, is a high functioning disabled woman and a cancer survivor, and is still waiting for that science fiction novel with a starship captain that looks like her.

Square Pig in a Round Hole-December 26, 2020

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Images shows a square cartoon pig in a round hole.

Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #41

It’s the Second Day of Christmas, and the gift I have for you is better than turtledoves or partridges in pear trees. It’s a stocking full of festive holiday-themed band names, with a bonus sixth name because we all deserve a treat. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Chris Mess
(November 17, 2012) Funny how you don’t see anyone starting a movement to put the mess back in Christmas.

Common Holly
(December 14, 2019) Pretty, Christmas-y, invasive, functionally immortal. (Not a seasonal act, either, but well timed.)

Deer Leader
(December 12, 2015) It looks like a cute play on what they call North Korea’s supreme leader. It’s actually about Rudolph.

The Donner Vixens
(December 24, 2011) Christmas-y, yet of questionable taste in so many ways! (Insert your own cannibal joke here.) I heard this week that if Santa’s reindeer are as usually portrayed, with full antlers in mid-winter, they’re all female. So I really hope this is a girl group.

Electric NoNo
(December 12, 2015) A warning to pet owners: be sure to keep your cats, dogs, hamsters, wombats, etc. from chewing on the tree lights!

Gentle Bender
(December 12, 2015) This one makes a neat turn from beloved animal star to a lonely Christmas Eve, listening to Darlene Love and drinking toasts to absent friends until you quietly pass out under the tree.

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-December 19, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #40

This afternoon, I’m taking part in Jolabokaflod 2020 (Christmas Book Flood), on a panel titled “Writing YA in a World of Identity, Sexuality, and Violence: How Much Is Too Much?” Watch the livestream at 1:30 p.m. Pacific here (or watch it later at your leisure). There is a whole playlist at the link of other panels and presentations happening today and tomorrow. I hope you’ll check it out!

Meanwhile, I have a few Rocky and Bullwinkle themed band names left, plus a few that comment on the weather we’re expecting this weekend.  As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.


Buckets of Rain
Downpour
(April 9, 2011) Considering our recent weather, Downpour and Buckets of Rain obviously go together as well as fulfilling the local flavor criterion.

Dies Drear
(January 21, 2012) This is perfect for Seattle in winter: not Dies Irae (Day of Wrath), but Dies Drear (Day of Low Clouds with Chance of Rain or Rain/Snow Mix and Dark by 5:00 P.M.). The aural pun secures it a place on the list.

Moose Almighty
(January 20, 2019) Evokes Bullwinkle, and is also a better clean swear than the movie title it’s based on.

Moose Light Kingdom
(April 16, 2016) I doubt I have ever passed up a band name with “moose” in it. In this case, I imagine the Man in the Moon has been replaced by Bullwinkle.

Moose Portrait
(September 23, 2012) I think I saw this on Facebook last week. I wondered, “Where is squirrel?”

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-December 12, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #39

“A thunder of jets, an open sky, a streak of gray and a cheerful ‘Hi!’
A loop, a whirl, a vertical climb, and once again you’ll know it’s time for …”

Here at Square Pig HQ, our weekend movie nights almost always begin with an episode of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends, of which we own three seasons. Moose and squirrel are a big part of our family culture, so it seems appropriate to choose a Rocky and Bullwinkle theme for the blog. There aren’t quite as many fitting band names as there were for the October moon and November literary themes, but still more than enough. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Boy & Bear
(October 25, 2014) My first thought is of Christopher Robin and Pooh. My second thought is of Moose and Squirrel. I like the simplicity of the monosyllables related by alliteration, and the innocence of the image.

Chin Up Rocky
(December 22, 2012) Hokey-smoke! A Bullwinkle reference!

DJ Doo Right
(June 11, 2011) I’m picturing a square-jawed DJ in a Mountie uniform . . .

Elk and Boar
(January 15, 2011) I suppose this has something to do with wild animals or game meat, but the construction evokes “Moose and Squirrel.” Anything that makes me think of Rocky and Bullwinkle is OK by me.

Fearless Lieder
(September 15, 2012) Any band that can combine references to German art song and Rocky and Bullwinkle gets my vote. I see this and I hear Boris Badenov saying it. “That voice! Where have I heard that voice?”

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-December 5, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #38

I ended National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) with almost 27,000 words of a new fantasy novel. That’s far from 50K, so I didn’t “win.” But since my goal was only to end up with a sloppy draft I could make good, I feel like a winner, anyway. My previous projects have or will soon be published, so this one has a good chance.

There were enough literary themed band names left for one more week, including a bonus sixth name. Next week I’ll choose an exciting new theme. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, maybe read a book or ten, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Salinger
(January 8, 2011) I re-read Catcher in the Rye last week, so I couldn’t very well leave this band out. There’s a lot of rock & roll attitude in the book.

Squirrel of Shame
(September 8, 2012) Years ago, I read The Children of Odin to my kids. One of my favorite figures was Ratatosk, the Squirrel of Discord that runs up and down the World Ash Tree. I’m guessing this is his brother.

Starsailor
(June 6, 2015) This one hits both my literary and science buttons. My fascination with space travel began with Apollo 11 and only increased once I learned to read and discovered science fiction. It wasn’t until I studied a little Greek in college that I learned what a beautiful, poetic, dare I say romantic name NASA chose for U.S. space travelers. Astronaut literally means “star sailor.”

Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra
(May 26, 2012) I like names like this that don’t come into their own until you say them aloud, and then suddenly there’s a literary allusion smacking you in the face.

Terraform
(January 8, 2011) It’s hard to pass up a good sci-fi connection. I think I’ve mentioned before that I came to rock music and science fiction at around the same time, and I’m still into both. This name particularly strikes me now because I’m writing a piece that involves terraforming and had to learn about it recently. [Guess what? I’m working on that book again.]

Told Slant
(May 28, 2016) Where was this one when I did the literary theme a couple of weeks ago? Never mind, here they are now, having taken Emily Dickinson’s advice re: truthtelling.

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-November 28, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #37

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is almost over–I’ve got about 26,000 words on a lively and engaging wizard fantasy that I look forward to developing further. In other literary news, my flash-fiction ghost story, “She Kept the House,” will be included in an anthology of 100 stories by 100 authors, titled Worth 1000 Words. The already-successful Kickstarter to fund the project goes for 4 more days, offering flash fiction lovers the chance to pre-order the book and get some bonus swag.

The literary theme on the blog will continue for two weeks, there are just that many goodies. I’m even including a couple of bonus names this week. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, maybe read a book or ten, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Mandroid Echostar
(May 14, 2016) Now we enter the realm of pulp sci-fi. I imagine this character was Buzz Lightyear’s delinquent roommate at the Space Ranger Academy who dropped out and became a smuggler or spaceman of fortune.

Marley’s Ghost 
(May 14, 2016) Identical in structure to Casca’s Dagger [featured earlier this month] but referring to a character rather than a prop — the first of four spirits intent on Scrooge’s redemption. If it were up to me, Marley would get promoted to Heaven for this act.

Peace Mercutio
(January 1, 2011) I’m just a sucker for a good literary allusion.

Pickwick
Trespassers William
(December 18, 2010) These two both get the nod for literary allusions to a couple of favorite books. Music and books go together like books and music.

The Pro-nouns
(April 4, 2015) Is this name standing in for the actual name of this band? The hyphen suggests nouns that have given up their amateur status. (This also reminds me of two siblings who swapped genders; I suggested they start a band called Pronoun Trouble. They have yet to take me up on it.)

The Raven and the Writing Desk
(April 26, 2014) Classic X and the Y structure meets literary reference! The English majors go wild.

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-November 21, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #36

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) continues–I’ve got over 22,000 words on my project so far and have reached the end of the story…but not of the writing. There are still many holes to plug and complications to add. The literary theme on the blog goes on, too–there are so many suitable band names in the vault, I’m including a couple of bonus names this week. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, maybe read a book or ten, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

DJ Leopold Bloom
(April 2, 2011) I love it when literature insinuates itself into pop culture. I hope he has a gig on June 16.

Don and the Quixotes
(March 3, 2012) Classic band name format + literary allusion = a real winner.

Fan Fiction
(January 22, 2011) Sometimes the names reveal rock music’s geeky heart. As a writer and nerd myself, I respect and applaud anyone willing to fly their nerd flag high.

Flyleaf
(March 7, 2015) Literary in a literal and very particular way.

Hello Nowhere
(April 4, 2015) This belongs with one of my favorite lines in children’s literature, “Good night, nobody,” found on an unillustrated page in the classic Good Night, Moon. Or else it’s what you say when you stare into the abyss and invite it to stare back.

In the Whale 
(May 14, 2016) Where Ahab’s leg resides.

Keep of Kalessin
(May 14, 2011) Do these guys know me? I am a fantasy writer because of Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea series, and Kalessin is my favorite dragon in all of literature. I will probably never write a dragon story because it couldn’t possibly measure up. This was the easiest pick this week (and also a perfect badass name for a metal band).

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-November 14, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #35

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) continues–I’ve got 16,000 words on my project so far and still having fun–and so does the literary theme on the blog. There are more than enough suitable band names in the vault for the whole month. As ever, wash your hands, wear your mask, maybe read a book or ten, and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Casca’s Dagger
(May 14, 2016) One character’s prop suggests the whole tragedy.

Comedy of Terrors
(April 4, 2015) The simple addition of one letter takes you from Shakespearean farce to B-movie horror; so bad it’s funny.

The Copyrights
(June 6, 2015) It’s a literary reference — not to the creative, inspiring, romantic side, but to the boring, bureaucratic end of things. When you set an uninteresting function off by itself as a band name, it lights up!

Dante Vs. Zombies
(September 8, 2012) This sounds like one of those literature + monsters mash-ups. My money’s on Dante, because he’s got Virgil and the virtuous pagans backing him up. (That would be a good name for a band, too.)

Deadly Poets
(October 4, 2014) I knew I distrusted poetry for some reason…

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-November 7, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #34

I try not to get too political in this space but will admit to a sense of giddy relief. The week hasn’t been all doom and worry, though. On Wednesday, I was delighted to read in the Seattle Times about 10-year-old Jude Evans and his new book BANDS (An Alphabet for Music Lovers). This was peculiarly appropriate because, as it happens, Square Pig in a Round Hole is 10 years old, too! Read the first post from November 6, 2010 here.

Meanwhile, it’s a new month and time for a new theme for these retrospective posts. November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and I’m taking part in my usual undercover way, so how about a literary theme? There are more than enough suitable band names in the vault for the whole month. Everybody, wash your hands, wear your mask, maybe read a book or ten (or start writing one!), and if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Author & Punisher
(September 1, 2012) One of the least pleasant parts of writing fiction is being cruel to your characters. Then again, sometimes they deserve it.

About the Author
(December 28, 2013) I’m a writer — how could I not choose this one? My bio in HEATHERS [the anthology that included my first published fiction] reads “Karen Eisenbrey was saved by rock and roll and fantasy novels.” Perhaps I should change that “was” to “is being.”

Being as an Ocean
(October 4, 2014) I’m taken with the philosophical/literary affect here. Every being is vast and complex, loud and wild. (And as it turns out, they set wordy, poetic lyrics to loud, thrashing music. It all fits!)

Bevelers
(March 23, 2013) I see this one as a literary reference: “I made it on the bevel. 1. There is more surface for the nails to grip . . . 13. It makes a neater job.” (From As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner)

Captain Ahab’s Motorcycle Club
(May 4, 2013) Love the goofy literary reference! Probably would have been safer than the obsessive whaling voyage.

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)

Square Pig in a Round Hole-October 31, 2020

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Naming a band is an act of concentrated creative expression. Square Pig in a Round Hole exists to reward five favorite band names each week. Winners are (usually) listed alphabetically.

Selection is wholly unscientific and subject to whim, with a bias toward wordplay, humor, and local flavor. In most cases, I won’t know anything about the bands at the time of selection. Thanks to the Seattle Times nightlife listings for abundant source material!

(Until live music returns, I am curating retrospective posts from past material. Dates indicate when the band was originally featured.)

SQUARE PIG IN A ROUND HOLE PANDEMIC EDITION #33

Happy Halloween! It couldn’t be more perfect for going out and having fun–Saturday, full moon, getting that lost hour back … But it’s still 2020, so we’ll have to settle for making our own fun at home. It is a beautiful day here at Square Pig HQ, so I may go on a jack-o-lantern hunt after lunch.

Meanwhile, I have one more batch of moon-themed band names to share, including a bonus sixth name to top off your treat sack. I hope they take your mind off the lunacy that is 2020. Everybody, wash your hands, wear your mask, and if you haven’t already, vote like your life depends on it. And if you are able, please buy these bands’ music and merch while we wait for a better day.

Moon Taxi
(September 27, 2014) And step on it!

Noonmoon
(September 5, 2015) A nice rhyme, and a reminder that sometimes we are privileged to see the moon by day.

Walk the Moon
(March 17, 2012) When you travel on a moonlit night, the moon travels with you. Kind of hard to get the leash on, though.

The Soft Moon
(April 25, 2015) This one really is made of cheese.

Strange Moon
(August 23, 2014) Otherworldly by definition yet right there.

Weregoat
(January 25, 2014) I like this recent fad for shapeshifting into animals other than wolves. This one’s practical, too: wait for the full moon and take care of those pesky blackberries yourself.

 

One last thing before you go: I share highlights from this blog in my quarterly author newsletter, The Storypunk Report, as well as news of what I’m writing and reading, upcoming events, and other goodies, including “Wizard in the Mosh Pit,” an exclusive short story just for subscribers. Click the link to check out the first eight issues and subscribe here for future issues. (Or just follow the blog for your weekly dose of band names.)