Regarding Hearing Actors Playing Deaf Characters
"A hearing actor playing a deaf character is tantamount to putting a white actor in blackface." -Linda Bove
The Hot Topic:
There has long been a controversy regarding Hearing actors playing Deaf characters and one that continues to this day. Deaf actors ruled the silver screen in the age of the silent film, but since the development of "talkies" they have continuously been discriminated against and it is a form of discrimination that continues to this day.
Why This is a Hot Topic? Why Now?
Unfortunately the gravity of the issue still seems to elude many in hearing world because they have no knowledge or understanding of the DEAF-WORLD, as evident in this article posted by Chris Wilkinson at The Guardian, regarding the controversy surrounding the most recent production of The Miracle Worker in 2009, Wilkinson states "[Bove] may be right that the theatre has not made a serious enough attempt to find a deaf actor, but surely it's wrong to argue that a hearing actor will give a less interesting performance? Acting is, after all, the art of pretending to be something you're not." What he and many others fail to understand is that there is a linguistic and cultural knowledge required in being Deaf and they fail to recognize the power of media and the devastating effects of not allowing a minority community to represent themselves. As Professor Lennard Davis, a professor from University of Illinois, stated in an article to the Huffington Post, "There is an unacknowledged discrimination involved in not using deaf actors to play deaf roles,".
As with many forms of discrimination it has taken some time for the majority group to turn around and understand that this audistic casting is not appropriate. While one may argue that nowadays in most television series any Deaf character has been played by a Deaf actor - full feature films which sometimes centre around Deaf Heroes still do not always grasp the concept. One of the most prominent examples is The Miracle Worker, where fully abled Patty Duke takes on the role of Deaf-Blind icon Hellen Keller and subsequently won the Academy Award for best actress in a supporting role. There has been a long running controversy regarding this casting which was recently reprised in 2009 when Abigail Breslin was cast in a Broadway production of the same name, evident in this article on the Broadstreet Review. While there is an argument made for artistic interpretation the idea that "A blind-deaf actress wouldn't gain an advantage in playing Keller merely because she is disabled. At best, simply sharing Keller's disability would only enable her to portray her own experience as a blind-deaf woman, which isn't necessarily Helen Keller's experience." clearly demonstrates how much the community does not understand the issues at hand.
The reason for needing Deaf to play Deaf in any form of media is complex and comes down to many different layers, at least in my opinion. It is important for people to recognize it is not only authenticity to the performance but accurate representation of the Deaf Community at large. It is a slippery slope from character to caricature. When Deaf characters are portrayed in mainstream media they become archetypes of the Deaf Community as a whole for the numerous Hearing people who have no connection or knowledge to the real DEAF-WORLD. Furthermore the roles for Deaf actors out there are severely limited and while many directors may cite a "lack of talent" the list of Deaf actors on this page, which is by no means complete, would suggest otherwise.
It's hard not to see systemic barriers when projects like Marlee Matlin's My Deaf Family doesn't get picked up in 2010, but in 2011 Switched at Birth with a Hearing creator graces the screen with strong similar themes.
There has long been a controversy regarding Hearing actors playing Deaf characters and one that continues to this day. Deaf actors ruled the silver screen in the age of the silent film, but since the development of "talkies" they have continuously been discriminated against and it is a form of discrimination that continues to this day.
Why This is a Hot Topic? Why Now?
Unfortunately the gravity of the issue still seems to elude many in hearing world because they have no knowledge or understanding of the DEAF-WORLD, as evident in this article posted by Chris Wilkinson at The Guardian, regarding the controversy surrounding the most recent production of The Miracle Worker in 2009, Wilkinson states "[Bove] may be right that the theatre has not made a serious enough attempt to find a deaf actor, but surely it's wrong to argue that a hearing actor will give a less interesting performance? Acting is, after all, the art of pretending to be something you're not." What he and many others fail to understand is that there is a linguistic and cultural knowledge required in being Deaf and they fail to recognize the power of media and the devastating effects of not allowing a minority community to represent themselves. As Professor Lennard Davis, a professor from University of Illinois, stated in an article to the Huffington Post, "There is an unacknowledged discrimination involved in not using deaf actors to play deaf roles,".
As with many forms of discrimination it has taken some time for the majority group to turn around and understand that this audistic casting is not appropriate. While one may argue that nowadays in most television series any Deaf character has been played by a Deaf actor - full feature films which sometimes centre around Deaf Heroes still do not always grasp the concept. One of the most prominent examples is The Miracle Worker, where fully abled Patty Duke takes on the role of Deaf-Blind icon Hellen Keller and subsequently won the Academy Award for best actress in a supporting role. There has been a long running controversy regarding this casting which was recently reprised in 2009 when Abigail Breslin was cast in a Broadway production of the same name, evident in this article on the Broadstreet Review. While there is an argument made for artistic interpretation the idea that "A blind-deaf actress wouldn't gain an advantage in playing Keller merely because she is disabled. At best, simply sharing Keller's disability would only enable her to portray her own experience as a blind-deaf woman, which isn't necessarily Helen Keller's experience." clearly demonstrates how much the community does not understand the issues at hand.
The reason for needing Deaf to play Deaf in any form of media is complex and comes down to many different layers, at least in my opinion. It is important for people to recognize it is not only authenticity to the performance but accurate representation of the Deaf Community at large. It is a slippery slope from character to caricature. When Deaf characters are portrayed in mainstream media they become archetypes of the Deaf Community as a whole for the numerous Hearing people who have no connection or knowledge to the real DEAF-WORLD. Furthermore the roles for Deaf actors out there are severely limited and while many directors may cite a "lack of talent" the list of Deaf actors on this page, which is by no means complete, would suggest otherwise.
It's hard not to see systemic barriers when projects like Marlee Matlin's My Deaf Family doesn't get picked up in 2010, but in 2011 Switched at Birth with a Hearing creator graces the screen with strong similar themes.
While Switched at Birth has been a monumental step forward and the first show of it's kind since Sue Thomas F.B.Eye to try and appropriately represent the Deaf Community it still manages to miss the mark in its accessibility. For example Switched at Birth recently put out an episode that was, for the most part, entirely in ASL. In various articles including this one from the Huffington Post they applaud the show in making a "bold statement". Yet, in many instances throughout the episode when characters would sign cameras would be filming behind the actor. While one can argue that subtitles are available this is hardly the point considering it's intention was to be entirely comprised in ASL. In fact some have been so outraged there has even been a petition put forward to ABC for them to "Create responsible, accurate, and family-oriented TV programming."
It is also unfortunate, in my opinion, that outside of few select programs finding Deaf movies and television is next to impossible. The reality of these systemic barriers exist in many forms as illustrated in the documentary See What I'm Saying. Not only are there barriers in being cast or hired behind the scenes but funding is scarce and as such it is difficult to get true Deaf stories in front of the majority.
It is also unfortunate, in my opinion, that outside of few select programs finding Deaf movies and television is next to impossible. The reality of these systemic barriers exist in many forms as illustrated in the documentary See What I'm Saying. Not only are there barriers in being cast or hired behind the scenes but funding is scarce and as such it is difficult to get true Deaf stories in front of the majority.
References:
DavidDeafEnnis. (Artist). (2014). Audism is Wrong Poster [Print Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.zazzle.ca/gallaudet posters
(1962). The Miracle Worker [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/topic/the-miracle-worker
(1968). Heart Is a Lonely Hunter [VHS] [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Is-Lonely-Hunter-VHS/dp/6300269485
(1972). Deaf Smith and Johnny Ears [Los Amigos] Film Poster [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.musicman.com/00pic/12727.html
DavidDeafEnnis. (Artist). (2014). Audism is Wrong Poster [Print Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.zazzle.ca/gallaudet posters
(1962). The Miracle Worker [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/topic/the-miracle-worker
(1968). Heart Is a Lonely Hunter [VHS] [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Is-Lonely-Hunter-VHS/dp/6300269485
(1972). Deaf Smith and Johnny Ears [Los Amigos] Film Poster [Web Photo].
Retrieved from http://www.musicman.com/00pic/12727.html