Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Communication

Committee Chair

Antonio de Velasco

Committee Member

Amanda Edgar

Committee Member

Marina Levina

Committee Member

Lauri Umansky

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the ways voice, sound, and hearing are represented in John Krasinskis 2018 film, A Quiet Place. Using a theory of close reading inspired by the works of Michael Leff and informed by a Deaf epistemology animated by the works of sound artist Christine Sun Kim, this dissertation uses A Quiet Place as a touchstone from which to explore issues of sound within the Deaf community. Kims art, demonstrations, and lectures provide focus for the three critical vibrational pulses of this project: Seeing Voice, Subjective Loudness, and (LISTEN). Vibrating these areas of exploration against A Quiet Place allows for, at times, deep reverberations that offshoot into history, theory, and personal narrative. In doing so, this dissertation is able to engage in topics such education, technologies, language, and access that are of utmost importance to Deaf World and have often been the subject of historical and contemporary debates in Deaf culture and between hearing and Deaf cultures. This close reading analysis of A Quiet Place provides evidence for understanding voice without audibility, for experiencing sound without hearing, and for embracing multi-modal ways of listening.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest

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