Re-defining Deaf
Ryan Commerson and Wayne Betts Jr made a short movie - link here.
It’s a cool movie. Basically, they’re trying to change the misconception about deaf people being dumb because in the past, the word, deaf, was always associated with dumb and that hearing loss had to be fixed. They were tired of seeing how Hollywood movies would cast a deaf person to play a role of self-pity or some dumb person, so they used a good-looking deaf lady and made a sexy scene out of it in order to change the world’s perspective on deaf people.
I want to share something funny that’s happened at my work. Not a long ago, we hired a new co-worker and he sent out an intro email and I replied back to his email. Turned out that we have some similar interests and we chatted a bit. Then I went out on a vacation. When I got back, he IMed me that he had learned that I’m Deaf and he didn’t know that I was. So, we as deaf people have come a long way since then.
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
Jen
You totally nailed it, simple and sweet. I’ve read other bloggers’ lengthy and complex statements regarding Ryan’s movie. Some were confused with what’s truly behind the story.
I wanted to add something to what you said - not only they used a good-looking deaf lady in the movie, but they also used a good-looking DEAF man. Most Hollywood movies use a hearing man to associate with or even seduce a deaf woman. We don’t see a deaf couple in many movies, do we? Ryan simply wanted to broadcast to the audience that deaf people, in fact, are able to maintain normal relationships and to work in both worlds - hearing and/or deaf, and that the old ideology towards the deaf needed to be thrown out the window for the better.
Good blog you got there!
- Jen
Nov 16th, 2008
natech
No problem, Jen.
Yep, I heard from a friend that someone is trying to start an internet TV channel on people using sign language only. That’ll be interesting to watch! and should have a plenty of deaf couples in it. ;-)
Nov 17th, 2008
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