Disability Studies Across Genres: An English Literature Portfolio

Abstract

This creative component critically examines Disability Studies, the Hard-of-Hearing (HOH) identity, and accessibility issues, exploring the intersection of these subjects within film, literature, and the natural environment. Drawing on my personal experience as an individual who is Hard-of-Hearing to demonstrate how societal norms and inaccessible spaces affect non-normative bodies and minds while also arguing the distinction between d/Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing identities. The chapters include a survey of the evolution of sound in film and its exclusionary or inclusive nature concerning individuals with diverse hearing abilities, a demonstration of how a zine can function as a learning tool, and a critical analysis of ecogothic literature. These diverse chapters combine scholarly research with my autobiographical narrative to emphasize the need for inclusivity and accurate representations. Furthermore, my work engages with concepts such as crip time and crip space through a critical examination of Zora Neale Hurston’s text Their Eyes Were Watching God, providing an opportunity to reflect on how society responds to both the natural world and disability.