The Unexpected

 The article “Lauren Ridloff’s Quiet Power: ‘My Life Has Changed in Every Way’” is the story of a deaf female ASL tutor who is now a Tony Nominated actress “unexpectedly.” Author Michael Paulson organizes the text in a way that delivers a message exhibiting subtle belittlement. There aren’t many deaf actors/actress’ who are nominated for Tony Awards, which makes Ridloff stand out to the reader. The storyline doesn’t really involve any cliche character/people types. It involved a change in character, a deaf Mexican-African-American character at that, who devoted her time in teaching deaf/hard of hearing children, becoming an actress “without even trying”. The organization of the text isn’t coherent. In one portion of the article, Paulson mentions how Ridloff “has no professional stage experience” will later contradicting himself stating that during her years in University, she went to explore drama and “was Dorothy in a production of the ‘The Wiz’, and was a cheerleader as well, being one of the first females to represent the U.S. in an international competition. Moreover, Lauren is being portrayed as a deaf woman who is considered to have no talent and the role was more or less handed to her. Even though readers have an emotional response towards the character’s story, it’s hard to ignore the sympathy and pityness that’s also exhibited throughout the article.

The audience showing interest to Ridloff herself, or the article, are most likely coming from people involved or interested in the deaf community, theatre community and subscribers/readers of the newspaper as well due to the article being published in the New York Times. Paulson’s focal point is to try and shine a light on deaf theatre. He includes many statements explaining how rare it is to see a deaf actress/actor in her position of being a Tony nominee. As mentioned before, Paulson organizes the text in a way that delivers a very message exhibiting subtle belittlement, which can result with angered responses from the deaf community. Because the author has no knowledge regarding the deaf community, the article can come off as truly offensive due to the authors emphasis on Ridloff deafness rather than her talent. It portrays a message that individuals part of the deaf community are disabled and wouldn’t be able to be actresses/actors unless the job is handed to them out of pity rather than their true talent.

Finding One’s True Self

Someone who stands out is usually never accepted in the beginning. As people start to familiarize the idea of being different, the flaw at hand becomes more and more naturalized, making all who feel inferior feel superior and accepted in society. El Deafo is a comic styled memoir of Cece Bell becoming deaf and being treated differently by those who she thought understood and supported her. Moreover, Cece develops a superhero, El Deafo, as a way to cope with her deafness on a social level.

Interacting with people who aren’t understanding of the circumstances you’re in makes it very difficult for said person to act normal when all  that’s being done is putting the imperfections and flaws on display. Within “El Deafo” Cece Bell is involved in many of these scenarios in which her friends make her feel uncomfortable due to her deafness. There’s a scene in which her new friend Laura constantly belittles Cece. Cece’s invited over to Laura’s house. Laura chooses all of the activities they’ll be doing throughout their sleepover (pp. 54). At one point Cece is bitten by Laura’s dog in which Laura reactions in a laughing matter not taking the situation seriously, humiliating Cece. Cece uses El Deafo as a way to cope with the way Laura continues to treat her as an incompetent child, disregarding her opinions as if they were any less important.

Cece has always been different, which in return causes many to focus on her deafness rather than who she is a person. She has created a sort of bubble within her head where her deafness is her superpower. In most cases, when a situation doesn’t pan out the way she thought, or at least wanted them to, she creates an alternative scenario where she speaks her mind and will stand her ground until she gets what she thinks is right for her. As mentioned before, Laura is a main factor as to why Cece, as the chapters go on, becomes a bit more self conscious when it comes to meeting new people. There’s a sleepover scene where the character Missy is introduced (pp. 96-102). Within the scene, Missy encourages the idea to put makeup on Cece without her consent. This scene is very important because it shows the extent of belittlement and disregard Cece deals with and how the people she considers friends are the ones who take advantage of her of the most. Cece rises above the situation by getting into her head, creating an alternative scenario where she’s the superhero El Deafo and those who are against her, in this case Missy and the others, are the Supervillains (pp. 99-100). The hearing aids are a prominent feature within the panels, using them as weapons, imagery to show that using the Phonic Ear is the only way she can conquer her fears and stand up to those who try to devalue her. Situations and scenarios like the ones mentioned are what cause Cece to overcome those feelings of embarrassment, fear, or humiliation. When Mike Miller is introduced Cece makes no sudden efforts to try and talk to Mike; she feels that he’ll focus on her deafness and treat differently. El Deafo makes her acknowledge both sides of the spectrum regarding friendships; if those who you consider your friends really are, then that’s great and if they aren’t that’s okay too. Situations and scenarios like the ones mentioned are what cause Cece to overcome those feelings of embarrassment, fear, or humiliation.

The novel revolves around the frameworks of deafness, self esteem, confidence and identity, which really corresponds to an audience of individuals who are having difficulty being themselves or being accepted in to the dominant community around them. The novel provides a sort of ‘safety blanket’ to say the least, encouraging the lengthy process of finding comfort in one’s true self. Even though throughout majority of the book Cece does not have the courage to do or speak her mind when she feels is right, El Deafo is a way for her to channel the confident and mighty Cece she desires to become.

Power Within Oneself

When Cece goes deaf and has to wear the phonic ear, there are multiple attitude changes as her story continues. At first she’s very embarrassed and hesitant to let any of the neighborhood kids or even her classmates see the device. Any time she’d have to give the microphone to her teacher in front of the class, she didn’t want pity from anyone or to feel different. Being different to Cece meant she would stand out and be acknowledged as the ‘deaf girl’ in her grade. When she moved up in school she became more comfortable with the phonic ear that when she had to leave it home for repair, she didn’t feel like herself. At that point, she had realized the abilities, or in her words “powers,” that the phonic ear provided. The phonic ear, subconsciously, started to become a bigger and important part in her life without her even knowing. This portion of the novel really identifies with those who are shameful or a disability they have or any other physical attribute that hinders their esteem. The idea that one should make the best of our current situation is prominent through the ways in which Cece chooses to see this life changing experience as either a disability or a gift, a power. She embraced her difference which in return helped her grow as a person to be more comfortable with herself.