Signing on screen: exploring deaf narratives in film

Abstract

The representation of Deaf individuals and Deaf culture in media has been a debated topic in the Deaf Community for years. Many feel that the way Deaf characters are depicted on screen perpetuates negative stereotypes that can spread misconceptions about the Deaf Community. With recent blockbuster films like CODA and A Quiet Place featuring Deaf characters played by Deaf actors, it brings up the question of if these modern films depict deafness in a way that is accurate to and accepted by the Deaf Community. The purpose of this thesis was to collect data to try and better understand how Deaf characters in film have been portrayed and characterized in films from 1975 to 2021. The desired outcome by conducting this research was to determine if the quantity of Deaf characters has increased over time, and whether the quality of the Deaf characters has improved over time as well. A questionnaire was designed that allowed me to keep track of the role that Deaf characters played in the films I watched. Based on the data collected through the questionnaire, it was determined that the total number of films featuring Deaf characters has increased over time, and that these characters have overall become more well-rounded and developed. Areas for improvement when it comes to representation of the Deaf community in film were also pinpointed, as there was a lack of representation that was age appropriate for children, as well as several stereotypes that were seen in multiple films across the years. This thesis contributes to pre-existing literature surrounding the representation of deafness in the media. Key words: Communication disorders, Deaf, representation, film, stereotype