As 2023 comes to a close, we’re looking back on a jam-packed year for everything from TV to the big screen. And among all the new releases, we’re seeing a continued wave of Deaf representation in media, with old and new faces of the community taking the entertainment world by storm.
For years, Deaf media has been dominated by hearing actors, directors, and producers, in spite of pushback from the Deaf community itself. In fact, a study by the National Research Group (NRG) and Deaf West Theater found that 82% of Deaf consumers think that “the entertainment industry needs to offer more career support for deaf professionals in order to create more authentic on-screen representation.” While representation is still nowhere near where it needs to be, this year’s releases are a testament to the diverse stories the Deaf community has to tell—and how much impact they have when they’re told.
TV
Television, especially reality TV, was one of the biggest arenas for Deaf talent in 2023. From baking cakes in “The Great British Bake Off” to fighting off Infected in “The Last of Us”, these stars were doing it all.
The Circle
Season 5 of Netflix’s “The Circle” saw the show’s first Deaf contestant. Raven Sutton is a content creator and a strong advocate for the Deaf community. In an interview with POPSUGAR, Raven said that she was a fan of the show, first and foremost. She realized that the Deaf community was rarely represented on reality TV and that the format of “The Circle” would lend itself to having a Deaf contestant. In the show, players create profiles from their private apartments, trying to gain popularity and make it to the end. Raven’s energy was palpable throughout the entire show, making her a favorite among the cast and fans alike. She used her native language, American Sign Language (ASL), giving full access to her community. Her interpreter, Paris McTizic, provided accommodation for hearing audiences for a change.
The Great British Bake Off
Tasha Stones joined season 14 of “The Great British Bake Off” as its first Deaf baker. The by-day participation officer, by-night baker made it to the semifinals of the show and won Star Baker multiple times. She started out making cakes for friends in secondary school and continued the hobby as a creative outlet. The inclusion of Tasha and her BSL interpreter front and center on the screen was hopefully a step in the right direction for the show and others like it.
Squid Game: The Challenge
Netflix’s reality show version of the popular show “Squid Game” received some mixed reviews. But the response from the Deaf community to player 393, otherwise known as Jackie Gonzalez, was overwhelmingly positive. Jackie said that she’d always had an interest in reality TV, but she had never seen Deaf hispanic girls represented. Seeing more Deaf talent jumping into the spotlight encouraged her to do the same. Her experience speaks to the importance of showcasing not only deaf identities but also intersectional deaf identities in the media.
The Last of Us
At only 10 years old, Keivonn Woodard captured audiences’ hearts with his guest role as Sam Burrell in “The Last of Us.” His performance was so impactful that he garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor, making history as the first Black Deaf actor to do so. He grew close with other members of the cast, such as Bella Ramsey, who plays the show’s main character, Ellie. Many of the cast members even learned some ASL to communicate with the young actor. His goal in the future is to win an Oscar for Best Actor.
Movies
On the big screen, there weren’t as many releases to choose from as in previous years. However, there were still some exciting developments to look back on.
Creed Ⅲ
Another young star stepped onto the scene, and her name was Mila Davis-Kent. The 10-year-old Deaf actress played Amara Creed, the daughter of Adonis Creed. Mila was an exciting new addition to a well-loved franchise. She saw the movie as a chance to show other Deaf Black people that they “can be anything”.
Barbie with ASL
While “Barbie” did not feature Deaf talent in the movie itself, HBO Max recently released “Barbie” featuring ASL interpretation on screen. The interpretation was done by the popular Deaf creator and performer Leila Hanaumi. She signs the entire movie, taking on the voices of each character. This a step beyond captions—which often aren’t even guaranteed—to capturing all of the nuances of the film through a fully visual signed language. Users were excited about this access option, hoping to see it become the standard. Leila even got to say—or sign—”Hi Barbie!” with Margot Robbie herself.
Looking Forward to 2024
There’s already at least one new release to look forward to in 2024. “Harmonium: The Musical” was recently announced at The Game Awards 2023. From developer, The Odd Gentlemen comes a musical adventure game following a 10-year-old Deaf girl named Melody. Players will explore a world where music is visualized and solve puzzles along the way. The game is set to make big strides in accessibility in the gaming industry. It incorporates ASL throughout the gameplay as well as captions and a host of other accessibility options.
The gaming industry is just one of many areas where we can hope to see increased d/Deaf representation in the new year. More movies and books from Deaf talent would be a step in the right direction for Deaf representation in media. Representation behind the scenes is also an overlooked but valuable area for improvement. The Deaf community has many more stories to tell, and we should be ready to receive them.
