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Abstract

Representation is crucial to the process of making meaning. It is constructed via the discourse and images utilised and emotions associated to initiate an interpretation. While meaning can be subjective, the existence of hegemonic, stereotypical representations dominates public perception and opinion and this is reflected in film. Due to an imbalance in power, minority groups, including Deaf people, have been positioned as inferior. However, a key trait of representation is that it is not cemented in place, it has the ability to alter simultaneous to cultural context. In order deduce whether the representations depicted in film emulate this, the dissertation observed and analysed the primary texts: Tin Man (Thomas, 1983), See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989), A Quiet Place (Krasinski, 2019) and Sound of Metal (Marder, 2021). It also employs secondary academic material to underpin theoretical perspectives and concepts while analysing the distinctions between representation and era. This dissertation reinforces the notion of representation being an ever-changing landscape as portrayals of Deaf people shift from stereotypical, one dimensional characters defined exclusively by their deafness, to intersectional identities that are beginning to populate motion picture narratives.

Course: Media Studies - BA (Hons) - C1346

Date Deposited: 2022-08-08

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13962.html