"MTV True Life: I'm Deaf" Accurate?

My opinion/comments on MTV's True Life: I'm Deaf episode.

English translation:


"Hey my name is jonathan. My sign name is (as depicted). I have a lot of things to do, so I will try my best to summarize this. I will be discussing MTV True Life: I'm Deaf- I watched it recently with my dad and my good friend. To be honest, I'm very disappointed with this episode because MTV, really MEDIA as a whole, continues to fail to portray Deaf all over the US accurately. Those two deaf people MTV chose does not reflect the majority of the Deaf in the US. On the program, we see Chris- he's from a hearing family who signs and attends mainstream public school with interpreters. He has all that yet wants to hear for better job opportunities and to snag a hearing babe, although he already had one. The other one, Amanda, who was born deaf but does not participate within the Deaf culture and community nor use the American Sign Language as her primary mode of communication. Her preferred mode is speaking, which is cool. Those two are the ones selected on MTV True Life: I'm Deaf. Yes, we do have deaf people like those, but I just wish MTV added a third story, of someone who attended a deaf school and is raised along with a deaf family, who everyday signs in fluent ASL and still read/write well in English. I would've expected a third story of someone who's STRONG DEAF. And MTV tends to add a third story, right? But I guess not, sometimes they don't. That's cool.

Thus the reason why I'm disappointed about that. Am I surprised? 'Course not. I actually predicted and expected it. I mean, we're talking about media here, typically run by who? Hearing folks. Therefore, their perspective of Deaf tends to be accompanied by sympathy and awe-struck sadness. Like when Chris first heard the wind, I can imagine hearing people's eyes filled up with tears and covering their mouths.

[laughs]

It still amazes me how that kind of ideology continues to persist today, you know? Well, that's hearing people for you. I think they just need more exposure, more realization that Deaf people are truly HAPPY without the need or dependence on the world of sound. Life without hearing aids, cochlear implants, and orally speaking and STILL Deaf people are happy! They continue to be content with life and THAT is TRUE LIFE of Deaf people, that! [sigh, shaking head]

Well, that's Media for you. So, what we Deaf people have to do, we have to- host our own media channel, produce our own films, and I'm a filmmaker myself. I've also seen other Deaf filmmakers and the number's rising pretty high soon!

Anyway, going back to the point- Chris, he's already involved with the Deaf community, but Amanda- I just want to give you a warm welcome to the Deaf community! You're already one of us and there's no arguments, ifs, buts about it! Congrats to ya both for being on MTV!

I also have a suggestion for those Deaf who watched the recent program and you're not satisfied with it- wanna take action? Go ahead! Type up emails and letters and send them! Voice out your thoughts and feelings! HOWEVER, do not ATTACK. I repeat, do NOT ATTACK. Address it in the proper, fashionably way. Calmly and cooly explain they (MTV media) misrepresented the Deaf on TV.

All right, thanks for watching! Chris and Amanda, I wish you guys the best of luck! And why not consider or enroll as a student at Gallaudet University, the world's only Liberal arts university?!!"

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• MTV
• True
• life
• I'm
• Deaf
• ASL
• cochlear
• implant
• TV

[Deaffilmmaker01]

Okay, all. I finally posted an English translation next to the video. FINALLY. Sorry it took me almost a year to do it. You know how life is!

[kcssnotbubble]

Hey! all of us hearing people aren't so close minded ! ;)

[Banerika]

HardHotelL352, did anyone notice that Chris said he wanted a hearing girlfriend, and this was presented as a reason for him wanting the CI, meanwhile he actually already had a hearing girlfriend? And she didn't even try to learn ASL (or at least that's what it looked like)? The problem was defined as deafness, the solution CI, presented as becoming hearing. I think that's a pretty skewed, one-sided perspective.

[MikaelaaXD]

i wish i could understand sign language! it's so interesting.

[supershortsporty]

Maybe I am just being ignorant because I don't know much sign language or anything about the deaf community, but your sign name looks AWESOME/totally baller from a quick glance...do you get to make it whatever you want?

[iilovejonasbros04]

i totally agree. i saw this once and i am like amanda and chris. im hard of hearing, i grew up with a hearing family and i only speak (no signing) lol

[Piggiesunshine]

I saw your other video talking about true life I'm Deaf. I can see your signing a lot better in this video.

I believe that most of that episode was true but I can tell that by the way it was edited that in some ways over exaggerated Chris and Amanda's lives and feelings.

[1RavynSkye]

I agree! They only showed two deaf people, neither of which was culturally Deaf. BOTH seemed to have been mainstream schooled and one got a CI and the other only really spoke.

They didn't show real Deaf culture or a Deaf school or Deaf family.

Just like you, I was disappointed, but I wasn't surprised.

Audism is alive and well in mainstream culture and they showed Deafness as a 'problem' to be overcome, instead of as a culture with capable people who did things WITHOUT hearing assistance.

[BRAZILGOTSTYLE]

hey dont be so prejudice on hearing people! Sure we can be dense but it is also just like u guys, we go on wit our lives and dont even notice the lil things. Wat seems like a big problem to one person, the other might take it as something else.I'll tell you one thing though, hearing people can be so selfish and cuz we have all our senses we tend to lose sight on the RIGHT thing to do. Others stop and do all there best to share and learn about different cultures^^

not enough space to explain :(

[strangergirl]

^_^ your signing is hilarious. Esp around the "people's eyes filled with tears..." part. Love it.

[ridor9th]

@lister1nePaz Gallaudet is the world's only liberal arts university FOR Deaf students, dear.

R-

[ridor9th]

Nice vlog. You made me smile all the way 'til the end!

R-

[lister1nePaz]

lol Gallaudet is the world's only liberal arts university? do you know what a liberal arts university is? Have you ever heard of harvard yale princeton?