Docu-series Example

 Deaf U - Television Series

     I watched this docu-series on Netflix that helped me understand what our process will be similar to. Although it was unrelated to dance, I think it was unique to see the perspective of college students and I got ideas from their interviewing approach. I really think this example was beneficial to watch because of the similar target audience, and how the main subjects were young students as well. 

    This show is a docu-series that included a cast of Deaf-American college students that attend Gallaudet University. This show revolves around the reality of these students' lifestyles and what obstacles they go through, as well as what goes on in their daily life as a young Deaf adult. This show highlights the Deaf community in a light that is typically not seen in the media world especially in film and television considering that they are underrepresented. The writer of this show Sarah Novic stated in a tweet, “d/Deaf people are so marginalized and starved for mainstream representation that we have to pin all our hopes and needs on this one (or any single) series...if Deaf people were routinely, authentically represented (especially including BIPOC and LGBT intersections) outside the fetish zone, could the problem be fixed.” 

    This demonstrates the genuine goal of Deaf U, in which is to create this representation of Deaf students in a raw and authentic manner as well as incorporating people of diverse races and sexual orientations which is not strongly represented in films. Even though there is so much beauty in the way that Deaf people are presented, there is still some controversy. The series received some backlash because the Deaf community does not want people to watch this and assume that the situations these college kids go through happens to all d/Deaf people. Although this occurred the writers and producers feel that  “Deaf U” demonstrates eloquently that there is in fact no right way to be deaf. Deaf actress Shoshannah Stern tweeted: “The triumph of ‘Deaf U’ is in its ability to show that deaf people make the same mistakes that hearing people make — and, more importantly, have been allowed to make.”