Please watch the first episode of Switched at Birth and answer the following questions.
http://deaftv.com/film/This-Is-Not-The-Pipe--Switched-at-Birth/
1. What evidence of audism is present?
2. What stereotypes are shown? Are they obvious stereotypes? Do they teach or help support these misconceptions?
3. Who is confirming to who to allow successful communication?
4. What signs of oppression are evident?
5. Is this a good educational tool to learn about Deaf people and their culture/community?
6. How do you feel to learn that Daphne is hearing?
7. Other thoughts?
1. Evidence of audism appears in various scenes of the show. One instance includes when Liam meets Daphne’s friend on the motorcycle. Liam doesn’t see why he doesn’t speak when he signs and doesn’t understand that he can lip read. Another includes when the rich father states that “no one likes being deaf”.
ReplyDelete2. The stereotype that deaf people use loud graphic noises to describe things is present. Also that deaf people can read lips and that deaf people can articulate words occurred in the show.
3. Daphne’s real parents think that if she gets a cochlear implant and speech therapy that she will be able to successfully communicate with people. They are confirming to Daphne’s non-biological mother that things will be better for her this way because “no one likes being deaf”.
4. One sign of oppression is apparent when Bay’s parents are convincing Daphne that going to a hearing school with an interpreter will be better for her even though she likes the deaf school that she is attending. Also when Liam, Daphne, and her friend were having that conversation, Liam wouldn’t even look at her friend or try to talk to him because he couldn’t speak.
5. I think that the show is a good but also a bad educational tool to learn about deaf people and their culture. It does convey that not every deaf person can read lips, and it also shows some of the common misconceptions about how hearing people react when approached with a deaf person. But they misguide the audience in the scene when Daphne is explaining why she is vegetarian. Also the fact that Daphne can read lips, can articulate her words, and that she speaks when she signs is inaccurate information. I think all in all there are various ways deaf people communicate and that this episode only includes one type of deaf person.
6. When I learned that Daphne is hearing I was kind of taken back. It just seemed a little inappropriate that a hearing person imitate a deaf person. I feel like the role she plays in the show of being deaf doesn’t accurately show what it means to really be deaf, mostly because of her ability to speak, to speak while signing, and lip-read.
7. I think the show has its pros and cons to conveying the deaf community but I would not suggest it as an educational tool to learn what the deaf community is all about.
I agree with you answer to number 5. I also do not think it is the best way to teach people about deaf culture/community. I like that you said the episode only shows one type of a deaf person- not all deaf people are the same just like hearing people.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading our answers for number 6, because I'm curious for everyone's opinion about the controversial matter. I agree, Jenny, that a Deaf individual would more accurately play the part of Daphne. But then again it brings me back to my main point, if we're protesting the actress playing Daphne being hearing I think we should protest the straight people playing gays, and the women playing men's roles. I also feel people shouldn't lash out at the actress herself. She, too, is a young aspiring actress and took an opportunity when it presented itself. If anything the producers of the show are to blame for casting her. The actress is simply doing her job.
DeleteI agree with Jill, when you said that we shouldn't hold it against the actress for getting the role. I saw in another interview that the actress said that they held national wide casting calls to play Daphne and Emmett. I think it was definitely the producers/ casting directors who should potentially be to blamed for not getting a deaf actress
Delete1. There are quite a few examples of audism in the first episode. First, John is afraid of saying the word deaf. He acts like it’s a bad thing throughout the whole episode. He also acts like Daphne is under-privileged because she is deaf and also thinks Daphne hasn’t had the same opportunities. John also says “Keeping Daphne deaf, keeps her dependent.” He says this when he wants Daphne to get cochlear implants so she can be “fixed” and become more like hearing people. The one comment John made that made me mad was “You are isolating yourself in a deaf bubble.” Hearing people surround themselves with other hearing people so why can’t deaf people do the same thing? Deaf people have a separate culture from hearing people. Also, Toby talks through Daphne to Emmett instead of talking to him directly. He thinks it is pointless since he won’t talk back.
ReplyDelete2. Katherine also doesn’t understand how hearing aids work but assume they make Daphne hear everything. John doesn’t think there is differences between translates and interpret. There is also the stereotype that Daphne can lip read everything and understand everything people say. I do not think the show does a great job explaining that not all deaf people can lip read or lip read well. Other stereotypes are that cochlear implants cure being deaf and they work to restore hearing loss.
3. Regina works very hard to have successful communication between her and Daphne. She interprets when they are in a large group and signs whenever she is communication with her. Also Liam (Bay’s ex) makes an effort to communicate with Daphne, even though it was only fingerspelling his name it was a way to show Daphne he was willing to try to sign for her.
4. The biggest sign of oppression is when Katherine and John want Daphne to go to a hearing school and have an interpreter rather than staying at her all deaf school. They want Daphne to fit into hearing and their definition of “normal”. They aren’t thinking what is best for her, they are only thinking about how to fix her.
5. This is the only show I know of that has ASL as one of the main languages. I think it is great that they are showing a hearing crowd about deaf culture but sometimes it is inaccurate. But I suppose it is better than nothing. I hope the show gets better at truly representing the deaf community. They don’t have anything about deaf culture, not even other deaf people in the show besides Emmett. The show needs to start showing the whole community aspect rather than the life of one deaf girl.
6. I was kind of shocked when I found out she wasn’t actually deaf. There are many deaf actors that are trying so hard to make it big and then they cast a hearing person as a deaf person. Also, I am very curious to know whether the actress playing Daphne identifies with hearing or deaf culture.
7. I have watched the show every week and I am still on the fence about it. I like that it does have sign in it and exposes people to another language but sometimes it bothers me when the show doesn’t accurately explain something. I am very curious to see where this show goes in the future.
1. Bay’s dad thinks that there is something wrong with Daphne. He believes that she needs to be hearing and she won’t succeed without having surgery for a cochlear implant. He pushes Daphne to go to a hearing school and doesn’t understand that she won’t fit in because she is more comfortable around Deaf people. Both Bay’s mom and dad (when first talking to Daphne) shouted and spoke slowly because they thought Daphne would be able to hear them better. Daphne’s mom simply stated no matter how loud you speak, she still can’t hear.
ReplyDelete2. The stereotype that Deaf people need to hear or else they won’t succeed is made present (The Deaf and dumb stereotype). The stereotype that all deaf people can read lips is also present.
3. Regina works her hardest to allow successful communication between her and Daphne. She interprets hearing conversations so that Daphne can understand more easily. Daphne also interprets signing conversations for the hearing community so that they can understand sign. I think the people who are working the least (at this point in the show) toward breaking the communication barrier are Bay and her mother.
4. Bay’s parents wanting Daphne to go to a hearing school is probably the biggest example of oppression in this first episode. Their parents don’t understand that Daphne is most comfortable and can communicate best with other Deaf individuals.
5. The name sign explanation when Daphne is talking to Liam is very educational. She explains that Deaf individuals are given name signs, but you can’t create them yourself. The Deaf community makes them for you once you are accepted into their culture. Also Daphne explains that Emmett is most comfortable communicating with other Deaf individuals and not hearing. This is very common in the Deaf community.
6. One I was told that the actress playing Daphne was hearing I was surprised. I’m actually fine with a hearing person playing a Deaf person. After all, a straight person can ply a gay person and girls play male roles in theater and film, and vise versa. Why shouldn’t a hearing person play a Deaf person? The only thing that I am offended by is the “Deaf accent” used by the actress. Not all Deaf people talk in that tone. Some Deaf people choose not to speak at all (like the character Emmett). But other Deaf individuals speak extremely well, such a Monica.
7. I really like this show. There are certain stereotypes about the Deaf community, however, it is very educational to the hearing community who are completely oblivious about Deaf culture.
I definitely agree with you that we all basically came up with the same answers! I really enjoyed watching the show and looking for signs of audism and stereotypes. Usually I just watch for enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with both of you. Looking over these answers we all came up with we all noticed virtually the same things. I think so far we all have a pretty good understanding of Deaf culture :)
ReplyDelete1. The forms of audism I saw were that Daphne's biological parents were very insistent that only a hearing school would give Daphne opportunities, that being deaf is something that needed to be fixed, and that if you were deaf you were a bad driver (Which I think was more in the second episode).
ReplyDelete2. The biggest stereotype I noticed was that Daphne was so successful with lipreading and spoke as often as she did, especially with her mom and grandma who both know ASL.
3. Daphne is definitely conforming to her biological parents, trying to go with their suggestions for a hearing school and not teaching them how to be better communicators in the deaf community.
4. I think a form of oppression in the show is obviously the parents wanting Daphne to go to the hearing school but also that they didn't think Emmett should be allowed to drive a motorcycle.
5. For people who have had no experience with with the deaf community I think it is a decent learning tool. We do have to keep in mind that a good chunk of the viewers probably have never taken an ASL class or known a deaf person, so if they use this as a stepping stone to understand deaf culture than I think it is a good thing.
6. I was kind of disappointed to learn that the actress who plays Daphne (I think her name is Katie) can hear. For a show that is trying to bridge the gap between the hearing and the deaf world, I feel like they really missed an opportunity to spotlight as many talented deaf actors as possible.
7. It will be interesting to see in future episodes if they will show Daphne struggle more with lip reading or see the progression of the relationship between Daphne and her biological parents, because I think they truly mean well, they are just a bit clueless.
1. When you learn that a person is deaf, people talk to you differently, suddenly you not only talk loud but assume they know less. This is portrayed by the rich couple when they first encounter their daughter.
ReplyDeleteThe rich dad, feels the need to “fix” his daughter by providing hearing aid or undergoing treatment. He sees being deaf as a problem rather than seeing them as a culture. A culture in which they feel comfortable and belong. The father fails to understand that his daughter will never be like him. She belongs to her own culture.
2. All deaf people are stereotyped as being dumb; this is proven wrong by the movie. Not all deaf people are dumb.
Daphne can lip read and understand everything others say. This is another stereotype portrayed in the scene.
3.So far from all the characters in the scene, I noticed Regina puts in a lot of effort in allowing successful communication. In order for Daphne to be a part of a conversation, Regina interprets hearing conversations along with her mother. Also because Daphne can talk, she interprets signing conversations between her deaf friend and her brother.
4. Daphne is pressured by her biological parents to change schools, she is being asked to leave her deaf school and join a private hearing school. She will have a interpreter following her around whole day. Daphne is being forced to become something she is not. This I felt was the biggest sign of oppression in this episode.
5. I agree this would be a good educational tool to learn about Deaf people and their culture/community. It does a great job on portraying deaf people from two perspectives - how deaf view themselves and how hearing people view the deaf. It is also one of the few television shows in which we witness few actors using sign language. The main character, Daphne also does a great job in teaching people about some facts about the deaf culture. One such example would be acquiring name signs. The show however fails to represent the deaf community as it tends to only focus on one deaf girl.
6. After finding out Daphne was not really deaf, I was a bit disappointed and this changed my perspective for this show. I feel the show would have been very educational and meaningful if Daphne was deaf in real. Having a real deaf person to act it out would give a true essence of what deaf culture looks like and make it more relate-able to the community. being an Asian myself, I would not find it appropriate for white individual to act/imitate an Asian person, likewise I felt it was inappropriate for a hearing person to play deaf. Daphne may be educated about the deaf culture/community, she may be excellent in sign language however, she is not part of the deaf culture thus she does not know how it truly feels.