http://abcfamily.go.com/watch/switched-at-birth/SH55120583/VD55130708/american-gothic
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. We know that Daphene is confirming to allow successful communication. But really, how successful is it? How does she hinder this process? How does she enhance it? Where does Emmitt fit in?
4. What signs of oppression continue to be evident?
5. Is this a good educational tool to learn about Deaf people and their culture/community? Has your opinion changed? Provide detailed examples of how this can be used to educate?
6. Do you think the audience sees Emmitt as weak or strong? Stubborn or self assured?
7. Research stateschools and their imporance to the Deaf Community, how is this protrayed here? Did they show enough for something so important to Deaf people?
8. Deaf and hearing relationships, what do you think? What can be barriers?
9. Other thoughts?
1. Evidence of audism in this episode include the scene where Liam’s friends are making “jokes” about Daphne and how it’s funny that he take a deaf girl to a music store. They continue the jokes and end up making her feel upset. Also, when Daphne’s biological mother and other mother get into an argument over Deaf people being able to drive cars shows a sign of audism because they think that since they can’t hear they should “stay locked up like all other Deaf people”.
ReplyDelete2. The stereotype that all Deaf people can read lips comes up again in this episode. Also the stereotype that Deaf people shouldn’t drive because they can’t hear is prevalent. These aren’t the most obvious stereotypes because people don’t normally think about these things unless the meet a deaf person or are in a vehicle with one. I think they teach what stereotypes are out there but do a good job of counteracting them.
3. The communication between her family and peers isn’t very successful. Her new family tends to forget to look at her when speaking, and talking slowly. She hinders the process by speaking when she signs which makes people forget that lip reading isn’t a skill she really has. Emmitt seems to have great communication with Daphne, which seems to help them really understand each other and how they feel.
4. Pressuring her into going to Bay’s school, bringing up the idea of being driven to school when she’s already comfortable driving with Emmitt, and the scene of Liam’s friends making jokes are all signs of oppression that continue to be evident in this show.
5. I think the scene about “being locked up like all other Deaf people” was a great one. It showed the audience both sides of the story and made a good point about having the right to drive like everybody else. Also the scene when Liam asks Emmitt if he speaks English shows how people don’t intend to be offensive, but it often comes out that way in reality. My opinion has changed a bit, and I think that the second episode shows some new perspectives.
6. I think the audience sees Emmitt as being strong but stubborn. He knows who he is and isn’t afraid of confrontation, especially with hearing people. He strives to let people know that they should learn to think before they speak and does so with witty comments that I find to be quite funny.
7. I don’t think this episode showed the importance Dead people hold to state schools. This is where most of them feel comfortable talking and meeting with people. It gives them a place to show who they really are. They did not show enough for something so important to Deaf people.
8. I think that it could go either way for deaf and hearing relationships. If each person had skills and abilities to effectively communicate with the other, then I think it could work. On the other hand, if neither person had those skills, I would deem it to be very difficult. Barriers between a deaf person’s friends and a hearing person’s friends and events where they go together could be hard for both parties.
9. Emmitt is the best!
1. I think the most obvious sign of audism was when Liam’s friends met up with Daphne and Liam. They said some very rude things that made Daphne upset and she removed herself from the situation. First, they speak louder at Daphne when she says she is deaf. Then they ask why a Deaf girl would go to a music store. Also, they make fun of how some Deaf people speak and imitate a boy that went to their school. All there things are signs of audism and ignorance. Liam’s friends make fun of Deaf people and Daphne when she is right there. It almost seemed like they could make fun of her because she couldn’t hear them, still doesn’t make it right.
ReplyDelete2. The big stereotype is that Deaf people can’t drive. Katherine uses the excuse that Emmett can’t hear an ambulance, which then makes his driving unsafe. As stated before, Liam’s friends think Daphne can’t enjoy music because she is Deaf. The show also shows more lipreading scenes. Liam thought Daphne could understand every word he was saying (Neon Trees turned into Knees on Cheese). She showed him how hard lipreading is by putting headphones on him. I think the show did a good job protesting these stereotypes by having the characters argue their points.
3. Earlier in the episode, Daphne is too timid about telling her family how to communicate better. Instead she just tries to understand them even though they all talk at once. At the end, she tells them ways for effective communication since none of them know ASL. I don’t think it is successful because she has to do all the work for effective communication instead of the family making an effort and learning sign. Emmett is able to communicate with her in ASL, which I think helps her feel more like herself. I think by living with John and Katherine, she has to fit into their hearing world. But with Emmett (and at school) she doesn’t have to work as hard.
4. I think the signs of oppression weren’t as obvious in this episode but I saw oppression when Liam was talking to Emmett. He asked “do you know English?” I think question shows how much hearing people think Deaf people are different and how, as a society, we isolate Deaf people and those who are different.
5. I think this episode does a better job than the first. I liked that they showed Daphne and Emmett at the stateschool. I think this show can be a good educational tool if they present Deaf culture accurately. So far the show is doing an alright job but they could present more information about stateschools and the culture. The show still hasn’t shown any thing about the Deaf community.
6. I think the audience sees Emmett strong and self-assured. I could see how some would think he was stubborn but his character comes from a rich Deaf background and that is why he chooses not to speak and only sign. His mom in the show is also Deaf and so I think that plays a huge role in his life and how he sees himself. Emmett knows who he is and what he wants in life. I really like Emmett’s character and I think he brings a lot to the show.
7. I looked at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (Faribault, MN) website. From looking at different sections of the website, it seems like there is still a lot of community and alumni involvement. Also, from class discussions, stateschools are important for Deaf children to know their identity and learn about the Deaf culture more (at least that’s what I got out of discussions). I do not think the show did a good job showing what a stateschool means to the Deaf community. All it showed was Emmett and Daphne at the lunch table outside.
8. I think Deaf and hearing relationships can work if both people are open-minded and willing to learn. It would probably be very difficult but all relationships need some work. Obviously, language and communication would be a barrier. I think relationships can happen if both people want to they can make it happen.
I agree, Lynsey, and the Deaf viewing audience views Emmett as strong and self-assured. But I think the hearing audience may view Emmett as shy because they are unfamiliar with Deaf culture. As students studying Deaf culture, we know that a Deaf person who only signs and isn't completely comfortable communicating with hearing people is normal. But a hearing viewer who has no information about Deaf culture may see Emmett as insecure.
DeleteHis character is very strong for the show because he truly defines a person who is part of the Deaf community.
1. What evidence of audism is present?
ReplyDeleteLiam’s friends show the biggest signs of audism in this episode. They were extremely rude and oblivious about Deaf culture. They made fun of Daphne for being in a music store, and they were saying rude things and said something along lines “it doesn’t matter what you say, she cant hear you anyway”
2. What stereotypes are shown? Are they obvious stereotypes? Do they teach or help support these misconceptions?
Stereotypes about reading lips are once again relevant in this episode. People either assume all Deaf people can read lips or that when a hearing person is speaking to a Deaf person, they slow down their speech or talk way to fast and don’t face them directly. These are all huge communication barriers. Also the stereotype that because a person cant hear, you think theyre dumb. A hearing person thinks that a deaf person doesn’t know they are being talked about simply because they cant hear the conversation.
3. We know that Daphene is confirming to allow successful communication. But really, how successful is it? How does she hinder this process? How does she enhance it? Where does Emmitt fit in?
Daphne having successful communication with her new hearing family is difficult. The family knows to talk directly to her and speak in a normal way. But they forget. There is an entire scene at the table when the family is talking quickly and their heads are turned and Daphne cant follow what is being said. She become completely drowned out. Daphne eventually reminded the family how they need to pay attention when they are speaking to her. I think Daphne just needs to continue to give these reminders until the form of communication is embedded into their brains. Daphne enhances communication by not forgetting who she is. She is doing enough to adapt to the hearing world but she hasn’t lost sight of who she is: a Deaf person.
4. What signs of oppression continue to be evident?
Being able to be part of the hearing community by going to school, holding speaking conversations with hearing people and being able to translate others’ conversations.
5. Is this a good educational tool to learn about Deaf people and their culture/community? Has your opinion changed? Provide detailed examples of how this can be used to educate?
ReplyDeleteYes I think this is a good tool. I don’t think that everything in the TV show is completely accurate between the hearing and Deaf culture, but putting this show into the public eye brings attention to this form of communication barrier. It is something that has never been done and I think it brings a message to viewers that there is a problem happening between these two cultures and we need to fix it.
6. Do you think the audience sees Emmitt as weak or strong? Stubborn or self assured?
I think the hearing audience, so far in the show, views Emmitt as shy and weak. Because he is more reserved when it comes to communicating with the hearing community. However the Deaf community probably relates to Emmitt more than they do Daphne because isn’t comfortable being part of the hearing world.
7. Research stateschools and their imporance to the Deaf Community, how is this protrayed here? Did they show enough for something so important to Deaf people?
I don’t think the importance of the state schools was portrayed very well on the show. They weren’t explained very clearly or why Deaf people treasure them. The audience just simply knows that they are schools for only Deaf people.
8. Deaf and hearing relationships, what do you think? What can be barriers?
Well the obvious barrier is communication, but I think they can definitely work. Having a Deaf person and hearing person create a relationship is no different than any other two cultures coming together to form a relationship. It just takes work. There is obviously going to be tension at times when it comes to communication and it may become frustrating, but its definitely possible.
9. Other thoughts?
I really like Liam. So far, he seems to be the most prominent hearing character that is putting effort into learning about Deaf culture. I think hearing watchers of the show can learn most about how to communicate with Deaf people by watching Liam.
Jillian,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts on if the show is a good educational tool for people or not. It isn’t perfect, but it shows a lot of what Deaf people have to deal with on a daily basis and also shows people the kind of ignorance people have towards Deaf people. It helps get the Deaf culture out there and helps people understand it a little bit better. Bringing Emmitt into the show gives another side to Deaf culture, and also brings a controversial air to the show which lets people think about things they never really thought about before.
Sydney,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your ideas about Emmitt and his sense of security. He does know who he is and where he belongs in life, and isn’t afraid to show people how ignorant they can be, which I think is not only great but also funny! Emmitt is strong and helps to guide Daphne in her identity crisis as a deaf girl in a hearing family. He is a great friend to her and lets Daphne know that he is always there.
Once again, I think we all picked up similar aspects that are important for Deaf culture. We picked up on most of the same scenes that portray oppression and stereotypes. We also seem to all agree that Emmett is a strong character and provides a good representation for someone in the Deaf community. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI really like your response for question 5. After reading your thoughts, I realized I am also able to pick out the good and bad parts of the show. I think it is very cool that we can connect what we are learning/discussing to a show and see how everything works together.
ReplyDeleteFor question 3, I agree that Daphne is more comfortable with Emmett than others. You can even see that she explains things differently with him, almost like she can truly express her feelings without being judged.
ReplyDelete1. One obvious sign of audsim was when Daphene meets Liam’s friend. They shout as they talk and share rude comments which upsets Daphne, making her feel uncomfortable. The friend questions Daphne on why she would want to visit a music store, when she can't hear anything. This I feel was a very audist comment.
ReplyDelete2. One of the obvious stereotypes is assuming all Deaf people can read lips. Liam thinks that Daphne can understand everything he is saying. Also when Daphne is invited for breakfast, we find everyone talking to her at the same time. Just because she can lip read does not mean she has the ability to understand 2-3 conversations all taking place the same time. Another stereotype we witness is that Deaf people cannot drive because they cannot hear. I feel they do a great job in showing all the stereotypes that are out there. Many may not realize it, thus this is a great for making people aware.
3. We notice Daphene putting in a lot of effort to successfully communicate with her family; however she is not very successful. This is mainly because very little effort is put forth by her family. I feel if her family didn’t focus so much on “fixing” her and instead focused on other methods to communicate, for example learning sign language, they would be able to communicate better. Rather than sharing ways to communicate we notice Daphne trying to adapt to their hearing world. This starts becoming a big communication problem for her, especially when they all start talking to her at once, she gets lost. Emmett is one of the few characters in the video who is successfully able to communicate with her, mainly because of he communicates in ASL. He is also deaf, which makes them from the same culture. Daphene can be herself when she is around Emmett.
4. Daphen’s biological parents think it is best she is driven to school, rather than riding on Emmett’s bike, which she seems to have been doing for a long time. Taking away things that are comfortable to you and making you adjust to new changes can be seen as signs of oppression. Also, as mentioned above, making fun of Daphene for going to the music store is another sign of oppression.
5. Yes, 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 stereotypes made about the Deaf culture. For example, assuming deaf people cannot drive because they cannot hear.
6. I think people view Emmitt as a strong person. He seems to be happy with who he is and we don’t see him wanting to change, especially around hearing people. We also notice he is protective about Daphene, and this portrays him as a character protecting his Deaf Culture/community. We see him signing his witty comments which not only make the show very entertaining but also defines his self assured character.
7. - I don’t think the show does a great job in portraying the importance of schools to the deaf community. It doesn’t really talk about why it is important to the deaf and what makes it different from the other schools. As mentioned by some of the other bloggers, it fails to educate people on why “Deaf people treasure them”
8. I feel that it can work out if effort and dedication is put in by both the deaf and the hearing. For example, the relationship between Daphene and her mother. Both are able to communicate well with each other. Daphene can lip-read and her mother can sign. I don’t see any barriers between them. On the other hand, for Daphene and her biological parents, the biggest barrier is communication. Though she can slightly understand them, because they cannot sign, they struggle in communicating with her.