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Sign language in popular culture

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This article discusses the use of sign language in popular culture and media.

Contents

Television

  • An episode of the American sitcom Ellen titled "Ellen's Deaf Comedy Jam" features the main characters getting into a fight when Ellen misinterprets someone's signing.
  • The series Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye centers on Sue Thomas, a deaf woman who is given a promotion in the FBI for her ability to read lips. ASL is used in many episodes.
  • In the American drama series Switched at Birth, one of the main characters, Daphne, is deaf and uses ASL throughout the series. Other characters in the show use it as well.
  • In 2016, American supermodel Nyle DiMarco became the first deaf contestant to win on Dancing With the Stars. Throughout his time on the show, he used ASL and had an interpreter with him.
  • ASL is seen in the Spin City episode "Deaf Becomes Her". In one instance, Mayor Winston (Barry Bostwick) tries to sign "understanding" to a deaf woman, and she informs him that he accidentally signed "horny".
  • In Canada, there was a show titled Deafplanet which lasted two seasons and used ASL.
  • Deaf actress Marlee Matlin played the role of Joey Lucas on the hit television show, The West Wing from 2000-2006.

    • Film

  • Jennifer Jason Leigh plays the role of a deaf and blind teenager in the 1981 horror film Eyes of a Stranger and uses ASL to communicate.
  • ASL makes an appearance in the 2016 film Hush; the movie centers on a deaf writer.
  • In the 1995 film Congo an ape communicates using sign language, and her signs are translated by a digitized voice.
  • In the 2005 film The Quiet, the movie follows a deaf-mute teenager who communicates using sign language.

    • Music

  • In Sia's music video for "Soon We'll Be Found" she signs the song's lyrics along with backup dancers.
  • In the sign language interpretations of Amber Galloway Gallego, such as Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" or Sia's "Chandelier"

    • Books

  • In the children's novel Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman, Wedgie woman's hair is made up of multiple arms with hands. In the book, there is an image of the hands fingerspelling "Wedgie power".

    • Television

  • BSL is seen in the British drama series Messiah, as the character Susan Metcalfe is deaf.

    • Film

  • BSL is used in the 1994 romantic comedy film Four Weddings and a Funeral when the deaf character David informs his brother Charles that he suspects the groom loves someone else during the fourth wedding.

    • Music

  • 17-year old Matthew Morgan signs the lyrics to Ed Sheeran's "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" in the song's music video.

    • Film

  • LSF is used in the 2014 film Marie's Story that follows the story of a deaf and blind girl.

    • Music

  • In the English group New Order's music video for "True Faith", a man in an upside-down boxer's speed bag signs the song's lyrics.

    • References

    Sign language in popular culture Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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