Monday, April 24, 2023
Deaf Representation in Hollywood is Improving, but Still Falls Short
Variety: Deaf representation has come a long way in Hollywood.
“CODA’s” release and subsequent best picture Oscar win marked an important moment for deaf audiences. It showed the most significant representation of the community on a global stage since 1986’s “Children of a Lesser God” earned Marlee Matlin a best actress prize.
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2 comments:
When I think of incredible deaf performers, I think of Justina Miles. I saw a clip of Justina Miles interpreting Rihanna's Superbowl halftime performance and she truly did an amazing job. ASL interpretation is about so much more than just signing the words. When you're interpreting a performance as large-scale and energetic as Rihanna’s halftime show, you have to really feel the music and express that with your body and face. I'm so happy that Miles got this opportunity as a young black woman, it’s very inspiring to see. It’s surprising to me that she was the first deaf ASL interpreter of a halftime show, but it just shows again how Miles is breaking boundaries. I think we’re definitely entering an era where people are more mindful about accessibility, but I don’t think we’re anywhere near where we need to be. This world we live in was built without disabled people in mind, and we need to be constantly shifting our practices to correct that.
Making the appropriate accommodations is not that difficult and can clearly make all the difference in the quality of a production as well as fostering a better working environment. I think it is important to understand the perspective of someone who is deaf living in a world designed for hearing bodies. I love that everyone involved with the production wanted their hearing audience to have to put in the work deaf people are forced to in hearing situations. I saw To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway recently and one of the cast members is deaf. He was signing his lines as another character spoke them. I thought it was a great integration, but also felt disappointed there were no American Sign Language interpreters for other characters. Presenting the whole show in ASL would increase the deaf audience’s access to world class theatre and perhaps increase ticket sales. I hope theaters across the country can make these changes now instead of waiting until they have members in their cast or crew who need these accommodations.
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