The streaming platform and production giant Netflix has broken several molds in the past, and their latest docuseries Deaf U is diving deep into the day-to-day lives of the deaf and hard of hearing students of Gallaudet University. This show is one of many "docusoaps," which are shows that have pushed the boundaries between reality TV, documentary, and outright drama.
Other Netflix shows like Indian Matchmaking and Love On the Spectrum have put different ways of dating and courting under the spotlight. Along with Deaf U, they have garnered impressive ratings and reviews.
The "docusoap" is a new genre taking over reality TV, and Deaf U is the perfect example. According to Vulture, the show is clearly bound to two poles: reality TV and documentary work. In other words, Deaf U is, "pop-y and fun, but it’s also doing some fascinating sociological heavy lifting." The cast of Deaf U is made up of twenty-somethings navigating through life. The show charts their personal growth, their university careers, and most notably, their experiences as non-hearing or hard of hearing people. The cast members are all students at Gallaudet University, a prestigious and private university designed to meet the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing.
As the only higher education institution on earth designed just for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, Gallaudet University is the ideal setting. It provides viewers with a window into an interesting minority society. Vulture writer Kathryn VanArendonk states that: "on the documentary side, there are parts of Deaf U that feel like deep-dive explainers — and I mean that in the best possible sense — about the complicated and rich internecine cultural divides inside deaf culture." Very few documentaries touch on the deaf and hard of hearing experience in such an oblique way. It is the topic of several discussions between the students but the topic is often cast aside in favor of the latest tea, such as sexy gossip. For example, cast member Renate points out that deaf couples can't cuddle and speak at the same time. In another scene, students rearrange a restaurant's seating to make it easier for them to communicate. Hard of hearing individuals Daequan and Rodney find themselves tiptoeing the line between the hearing and non-hearing world, a space that represents a rare community even at the university. The trials and tribulations, and all of the nuances of the day-to-day, are documented well (and honestly) throughout the Deaf U series.
The show represents a refreshing and jaw-dropping perspective among the generally over-saturated and superficial settings of reality TV. However, the drama is alive and well. Vulture states: "The soap side is just as distinctive and identifiable as the documentary side. Deaf communities and Gallaudet in particular are small, insular groups, and the message that pops up again and again is that everyone knows and cares about everyone else’s business." Deaf U is blatantly packed with gossip. It seems like the student body is hungry for drama at every turn. The crew makes it a point to weave their way through the drama the students go through. Although they present it in an informative light, it is clear they are egging it on.
Deaf U is being marketed as a "docusoap." However, the show may be more enticing due to its representation of deaf and hard of hearing culture. The producers of the show made sure to keep the human experience at the forefront of the show, as the cast navigates their small social bubble. One of the executive producers, Nyle DiMarco, who has been involved with shows like Dancing With the Stars and America's Next Top Model, is actually a Gallaudet University alumni. DiMarco is a model and deaf activist.
Deaf U is currently streaming on Netflix.
Source: Vulture