Going to movies, concerts and musicals is something I often don't have to prepare myself for. I usually only have to worry about buying my tickets and arriving at the showtime in a punctual manner. When I arrive at the theater, my mind is usually preoccupied with thoughts of where I'm going to sit and if I want popcorn or Buncha Crunch instead.
I never used to think about whether other people had the same experiences at theaters as me because I was never aware of the privileges that I have had where other people have not. When I began working at a movie theater at nineteen, I quickly changed my perspective.
I have always had easy access to movie theaters, musicals, plays, and other performances. When I started working at a movie theater, I learned that other people do not have that same privilege. People who are hard of hearing, deaf, or blind want to consume media in the same way that people who don't have the same disadvantages do. "A Quiet Place" demonstrates this in the best way possible.
In "A Quiet Place," American Sign Language is used throughout the film along with subtitles to explain what the characters are saying. This does not impede the movie or the plot in any way and it contributes to the story in a perfect way. If all movies considered using subtitles on the screen, more people would be able to enjoy films without using extra tools that make them go out of their way during their viewing process.
One of my favorite musicals, Spring Awakening, had a Deaf West production which included American Sign Language in their choreography so the music could be understood by people who are hard of hearing or deaf. This, combined with the choreography, created a performance that was much more powerful than the performances that were done before this production in particular.
Making art more accessible to people should be the goal that all artists aspire to. If you make your art accessible to people with disadvantages different than your own, you may realize that your art can reach an entirely new audience. Who loses in that situation?
Consider making your art and media more accessible. I promise you won't regret it.
