Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and now the brand new Disney+ are taking over the world and could be the end for cinema outings. They’re more accessible, there’s so much more on offer than a standard one-off price of a cinema ticket, you don’t have to worry about the kid coughing next to you and you’re not spending £5 on a bag of chocolate you can get for £1 at Tesco.
But, what does that mean for deaf people? I came across an interesting article by the Guardian that really calls out to the cinema industry and say’s they have no excuse for letting the deaf community down. The way technology is advancing at the rate it is, there is no excuse for the lack of accessibility. But you might say, “there are subtitles?” Yes.. but are they as reliable as they should be?
I came across some articles that shared feedback from the community on Twitter.. and it was a little worrying about what was being published on our screens!
started watching she-ra!! so far, i love it!!
but what’s with these weird approximating subtitles @netflix? they keep skipping bits??
— kelsey michele✨ (@toughtinkart) November 14, 2018
im used to the occasional missed word in subtitles which i usually chock up to human error but the subs for she-ra are just straight up bad and inaccurate @netflix
— silas (@silkquake) November 14, 2018
.@netflix the subtitles on total drama island are sooo wrong. The line was "i'll get my hair and nails done" and the subtitles said "I'll get an eating disorder and my boobs done."
— DylaN64 (@DylanHelgens) November 16, 2018
Another source from Jersey Evening Post admittedly made me laugh. Did he really call the Chief Minister ‘daddy’? ? But what impact does this have for hard of hearing or deaf people? Surely there is no excuse for making sure subtitles are correct and relaying the most accurate information?
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/23/cinemas-deaf-people-subtitled-screenings
https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/features/2020/06/08/when-subtitles-go-wrong-did-he-just-call-the-chief-minister-babe/