Dissertation Defense Announcement

College of Communication and Fine Arts announces the Final Dissertation Defense of

Sarah Mayberry Scott

for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

August 8, 2019 at 11:00 AM in Art and Communication Building

Advisor: Tony de Velasco

Louder Than Words: Voicing, Sounding, and Listening to Deafness in 'A Quiet Place'

ABSTRACT: TScott, Sarah Mayberry. Ph.D. The University of Memphis. December 2019. Louder than Words: Voicing, Sounding, and Listening to Deafness in A Quiet Place. Major Profession: Antonio de Velasco, Ph.D. This dissertation analyzes the ways voice, sound, and hearing are represented in John Krasinski's 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. Kim's 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 that have often been the subject of historical and contemporary debates not only in Deaf culture but also 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.