This past espiode that aired on 11/25 titled "Hairography" showcased Deaf actors portraying Deaf characters from the fictional Haverbrook School of the Deaf in Dayton, Ohio.
During this espiode, the Glee team meets with their two opponents before heading to Sectionals (next week, I believe). Their opponents? Bad girls from the Jane Addams reform school and the prevously mentioned Haverbrook School of the Deaf. The girls from Jane Addams performed "Bootylicious" while the Deaf students (before being joined by the Glee cast) performed "Imagine" by John Lennon.
Please watch the episode, available with closed-captioning at either the www.fox.com/glee website or at www.hulu.com (search for Episode 1.11, or "Hairography") before continuing reading as it contains spoilers for those who have not seen the episode.
My thoughts?
1.) Where was the interpreter? I would think, with all the IEPs involved, there would be an interpreter provided by the school or the district for mainstream extracurricular activities? And why did the "deaf" teacher interpret for his students when he couldn't understand most of it himself? I was so looking forward to seeing how the interpreter would cover the number from HAIR with no preparation (i.e. interpreting it 'cold'). Imagine my disappointment when the interpreter was a no-show.
2.) Contrary from the comments read at YouTube, I felt it was rude for the Glee cast to jump into the Deaf students' performance of "Imagine". The Deaf kids didn't interrupt them during their "Hair" number, so why should the hearing students feel a urge to "help" them? But at the same time, I can see how the hearing kids were 'inspired' by the Deaf students and felt moved to join in. But still? Also, the sign language orchestrations felt a bit fake. If it was their first time "meeting" deaf students, then why did half of the Glee team all of a sudden know sign language? Some were obviously semi-fluent in ASL or rehearsed it too many times before 'mirror-copy-signing" their partners on the Deaf team.
3.) The lipreading joke is getting old. (Referring to the part at the end with Sue Sylvester meeting with the two coaches of the opposing schools). But again, someone with single-sideness deafness can still function as a hearing person - I felt that wasn't portrayed accurately.
4.) Kudos to GLEE for portraying actual deaf students; opposed to casting an abled cast member to play Artie, the wheelchair kid. It's a start - even though it's the third time it showcased a person with disabilities. (First Artie, then Becky, the kid with Downs Syndrome, then now Deaf kids).
What are your thoughts?
12 comments:
Good points!
Agree - should have been an interpreter.
Agree - would have been oh so nice if the Deaf performers would have invited the hearing kids in some way, instead of them jumping in. However, even with them being presumptuous, it was still a great number to watch, with the lovely signing and true Deaf actors. I think the sign copying wasn't any more unbelievable than anything else in this show. In the same way that the Glee kids's songs are post-produced and not realistic, this fits.
Agree - there was nothing realistic about the school for the Deaf's choir director. But this is Glee where everyone is a cariacature, so that didn't bother me. Same with the scene with Sue. Her character is supposed to be totaly inappropriate to everyone.
Also agree -- LOVED seeing real Deaf kids performing. I am so curious to know how the show was rehearsed - there must have been interps there, right? Wonder how the Deaf folks took part in creative process, how the script evolved and if anyone was brought in to consult on Deaf POV. Curious!
I'm a hearing teacher who used to work with the Deaf community. Full disclosure.
Would love to see other places on the 'net where this is being discussed. :)
There were two characters with Down syndrome in the 'Wheels' episode, the cheerleader played by Lauren Potter and Sue's sister, played by Robin Trocki.
The video clip is up on Youtube (several versions - all uncaptioned, unfortunately) and they all have tons of comments. Go check them out!
I just found your blog by accident and I'm glad I did! I am both a long term participant in the performing arts (on the technical side) and a big fan of Glee.
1. re: the interpreter. It's not something I'd noticed. Boo for my ignorance. As soon as I read your comment though, I went, 'oh, of course!' but it had really not even registered.
2. I'm so glad I wasn't the only person who thought the joining in of the McKinley kids was obnoxious. Sit down, it's not your turn! I know the writers did it for the effect and taken on its own or in a different context, it would probably have been a very moving thing.
3. This episode came at a very timely point for me. I had, not five days before the airing of the episode, written a blog post about a discussion I had with a bunch of friends a few months back about the hypothetical loss of either sight or hearing and I was in the minority that said I'd much prefer the former to the latter because I couldn't live with the lack of music. And then there was this episode that showed me that there is a musical life outside of the hearing world.
1. The director was interpreting at least at first when Mr Shue was talking but they never did show him again.
2. I go back and forth on this, I see what people are saying but in the end it was not the kids intention, they just go caught up in the moment. They wouldn't have interrupted them becasue they didn't like the Hair number.
3. The "deaf" jokes with the director and Mr Shue were not only dumb they weren't funny and unnecessary.
guys, its just a TV show
chill out
x
Thanks Peta. I agree. I'm not really certain how many deaf choirs there are out there, but I think having the Glee kids join in saved that number from being uncomfortable for the audience, much in the way the deaf choir's version of "Don't Stop Believing" sounded in the finale. I love "Glee" because it's an equal opportunity offender that savages stereotypes in the one place they seem to stand out the most: high school. Considering all the hand-wringing "Hairography" elicited, I'm really curious to hear what people thought of the judge's horrifyingly callous (yet, and this is just me and the 10 people in the room watching at the time talking, very funny) comments about why they were in the competition in the first place. It's TV, silly TV at that. But also highly infectious TV. And I'd be willing to bet the young deaf actors on the show thought it was a lot more funny than their many well-meaning defenders.
I loved this episode! I also love this post. I'm glad I came across this. I agree with almost everything. The thought that I don't agree with you on is the second one. I thought that the Glee kids joining them was really sweet. I find no fault in that. I think the Glee kids were able to follow the deaf kids was because the deaf kids were doing it really slowly and singing at the same time.
The "Scarlet Fever" joke was overdone too. I was confused why he had so much trouble hearing.
Thanks for posting!
i think your number 2 assessment was totally inappropriate. the glee kids obviously did not interrupt the performance. why on earth would you say something like that?? they werent trying to "help" the deaf kids sing either. so all of a sudden its not okay to be inspired by someone less fortunate than you?? they were trying to show a feeling of harmony and equality and setting differences aside. the deaf choir really showed the glee kids that they never need to use hairography to make a performance memorable and beautiful. i honestly dont agree with you or understand how you could say something like that.
Anonymous, I would like to state that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The fact that you did not state yourself makes me not hold you as honest either or gives you credibility for your statement. Who are you?
Knowing show choirs, there is a code where people follow and that includes not interrupting someone's performance. But again, it's a TV show - anything goes ; )
I'm not bashing the episode - in fact, I thought it was done well, compared to other TV shows that portray Deaf characters (the CI episode on "House" comes to mind) and I laud them for that. That's okay when people don't agree - that's what makes the world go around and around ; )
Truthfully, if I were the one performing and a hearing student decides to interrupt, I would have been annoyed but once I saw their intention, then I would have understood the intention - but it was not apparent at first and that's why I felt those mixed feelings about it.
I didn't get a sense that the hearing kids were trying to "help" - it seemed to me that they were inspired by the song and the genuine, honest performance by their peers, in contrast to their own horrifyingly false "hairography". My wife and I also read it as them abandoning what their own choir had been doing - they'd rather join a rival choir in a song about unity.
It was a little obvious that they had rehearsed the signing before, but it's such a slow and repetitive song (I love it, but it is) that it seems like it wouldn't be that hard to pick up a lot of it as you went along. I did see some real clinkers from the hearing kids trying to copy the signing, which lent it some veracity....
I also really loved the performances by the Deaf actors. Their reaction to the hair song couldn't have been more clear or more authentic.
Wow... in looking for information about the Deaf actors, I found a (short and dreadful) recap of this episode from the New York Times site that actually had a comment from one of the actors! I don't agree with everything s/he says, but it's great to get a look into how the kids on the show saw it:
December 19, 2009 4:14 am
Lighten up peeps. The pickpocket was a satirical jab at the student being from a reform school not because the student was blue or green or in all actuality.. their makeup was a tan color… it was about the reform school…
The reason the deaf choir, myself included, were not upset about the glee kids joining us mid song was because a. We saw how bad they were, and wanted to teach them/show them how its done. B. It showed us that the music and a.s.l. reached them so like a jazz group they added their skill and instrument while we jammed together with our lyrical signing… but mostly.. c. They let us rehearse at their school as we needed a place to practice and they kindly let us.. it was a rehearsal not an actual competiton in that scene.. ABOVE ALL… d-z. Its just tv and it gave a dozen deaf actors a chance to work in a musical which was awesome and its tv its not trying to be p.c. it got people to think about all of these issues rather than being zombies that had no thought after seeing it… as far as the deaf schools teacher.. the deaf community is big on jokes, jabs, mocking and having fun for funs sake.. we like razzing all kinds of sensetive peeps as they need to lighten up and brush off the fear of offendedness as that is a good sign ur too self obsessed if jokes and sitcoms make one think it is made to hurt them personally.. the writers never even met these people who feel offended by jokes that have nothing to do with anyone Watching.. its made to entertain and please network execs… especially fox.. lol we all had so much fun making the episode and touched many people and we feel proud to have been a part… if its too offensive take a valium and then make a sketch that expresses ur message its what expression is for. Peace in mid multiverse.. end race retaliation.. equality is the only cure for injustice in past past past racism.. not tossing around blame or reverse torture of any living thing love and let love.. and listen to imagine and watch GLEE HAIROGRAPHY until u catch the meaning of the song.. we are and shouldn’t need still to imagine .. we are one world together …
— deaf choir member #5
Ps yeah they need to sell the deaf choir version of IMAGINE. Maybe even make a cool music video that offends no one by showing the beauty of the lyrics with cool shots telling the story along with the words
— deaf choir member #5
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