Research Into Similar Products: The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off

'The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off' is a documentary shown on Channel 4 in 2004 which covers on issues about EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa). It follows John Kennedy, an extraordinary man who suffered his whole life with EB but still managed to live his life. In the documentary John's last part of his life has been filmed, showing how he has struggled, how he plans to leave this life and how he has managed to set up and promote the charity DEBRA, which raises money for research and development into EB. (information about EB below).

                                     

This text is interesting because it covers a range of subjects which I think are:

• Death
• Suffering
• Family love
• Religion - belief/after life
• Disability
• Abortion
• Charity
• Relationships

'The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off' is an interesting text because it raises the question of whether these sorts of subjects and matters should be made into documentaries and shown to people. Is it wrong to show people suffering in pain? Do people want to see these kind of subjects broadcaster to them? Although this is not a music video, these are the kind of questions I will have to think about whilst planning and making my music video, what kind of things will I want to show which might raise issues such as portraying gender and sexuality.

Here is the first part of the documentary:

   

Information on the charity DEBRA: http://www.debra.org.uk/

A text that raises similar questions to that of 'The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off' is the The Undateables which is a British reality T.V. show, again shown on channel 4. This two raises controversy about whether this sort of thing should be shown on television, whether it is unfair on the people in the programme and if these people have been manipulated for people's entertainment.

Episode from the series 'The Undateables'

Here is an article from the Guardian about 'The Undateables', have a look and see what it says then leave a comment here about what your opinion is on this subject. Article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/apr/03/the-undateables-horizon-tv-review