On Friday, October 9th, 2020, Netflix released an original TV reality series – Deaf U. The series consists of eight-episodes, each episode around 20 minutes long. The show’s executive producer Nyle DiMarco is actually an American model, actor, and deaf activist who gained his original following from the 2003-2018 series, America’s Next Top Model where DiMarco one season 22 competition and from Dancing with the Stars, which he also one. It is important to know that DiMarco is also deaf and despite the challenges he has faced, he has been a major contributor in the spearhead effort towards deaf activism. Interestingly enough, I remember when DiMarco was on America’s Next Top Model, and during his time on air, he did express the difficulties of being the only Deaf person on a show where all other models were hearing. Although I have wanted to learn ASL since I was young, DiMarco proved to be major catalysts in my learning of the language and his work is often someone I look for in inspiration towards learning the language and learning about the culture.
The show follows a group of students at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Three of the students are young men and three are young women, both groups from different races, classes, and sexualities. Additionally, For those who do not know about Gallaudet, Gallaudet is a federally chartered private university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, although hearing students do attend the university. This reality TV show is similar to that seen on other platforms such as MTV and the American Broadcasting Company. The college students being followed share their stories ranging from topics of sex, dating, love, family drama, and friend drama. However, what is so unique about this show is that these issues are inspected and shown through that of a deaf perspective. The show does address the difficulties and experiences of deaf people living in a hearing world; however, the show’s normalcy in the topic and exhibition of everyday life is to show the hearing communities that deaf communities are not too different from our own. As noted in idiewire.com’s article, Deaf U lifts “ the veil and dispel notions about the deaf community that can often extend to all disabled communities out there.”
From this show, you will not only begin to normalize the deaf community, but you may also begin to see some sides of the deaf community that you may never have thought of. For example, the show reveals that, in this situation, there is a bit of a hierarchy in the deaf community where deafness is revered depending on your upbringing (hearing vs non-hearing communities) and how many members of your family and generations have been deaf. The purpose of showing all lights of the Deaf community is not to create the generalization as to that the community is awful or good, but rather show hearing audience members that this is a community like all others-filled with some good people and some bad people. This step sets a serious step in the right direction towards the representation of the deaf community and I can not wait until more series and moves like such are released.
https://www.indiewire.com/2020/10/deaf-u-review-netflix-1234590049/
Comments
Hi Elijah, I thought your cultural post was pretty insightful! It definitely does raise awareness and it shows that steps are being made to make things better which is so inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Elijah! I enjoyed reading your cultural post! It is really cool how Netflix released a show like Deaf U. It really sheds light on the hardships deaf people go through on a daily basis. This actually reminds me of a blind piano player who won America's Got Talent a few years ago. He is still impaired visually and I think it is definitely fascinating how it connects with some of the things the articles talk about. You should definitely check him out! His name is Kodi Lee and he is just amazing at the piano!