[nfb-talk] Thoughts on Daredevil

[Ray Foret Jr]

You know, the truth of the matter is this.  I was almost not going to bother watching this one.  I did however do so.  I expected to have very negative feelings towards it due to my impression that it was about a blind lawyer who supposedly had compensatory powers or extra special powers or something such as that.  In other words, as you put it, "the stereotypes of blindness".  Yet, if the first episode is anything by which to go, the writers of this new Netflix original series seem not to have gone in the direction of special compensatory powers with respect to this version of the blind hero.  It seems to me, (that is if I am to judge by the first episode) that the blind hero discovers wrongs to be righted not by some special powers:  but rather, by his use of hearing and his being in situations by virtue of his functions as a lawyer and detective.  When he does find situations to be put right, instead of using any special powers nonsense, he uses his well homed fighting skills which he keeps up in his partner's gymnasium.  In other words, it almost seems to me like the writers of this new Netflix original Daredevil series have chosen, (wisely it seems) to forgo the special powers route in favor of Mat (the blind hero) being put in to situations in his capacity has a lawyer and detective:  and then, with nothing more special than his finely homed listening skills, and well homed training in fighting skills complete with mask to hide his identity, manages to right the wrongs of his clients.  If, in fact, this is what the writers of this series have done, then it would seem to me that they, in their own way, have heard our message even if they don't say so directly.  I shall want to watch further episodes to see if this is indeed what they have done:  but as I say, based upon the first episode, it would appear that they have chosen not to adhere to the stereotypical special powers garbage and instead gone a more sinsable direction.

Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray

Still a happy Mac, Verizon Wireless iPhone 6+ and Apple TV user!

Sent from my Mac,
the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in

> On Apr 24, 2015, at 7:04 AM, Chris Nusbaum via nfb-talk <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Fellow Federationists:
> 
> As you are likely aware, the blind comic book character Daredevil has returned to the pop culture scene, this time as the subject of a TV mini-series available to Netflix subscribers. Daredevil has already caused some controversy among the blind since its launch on Netflix due to the lack of audio description available for the series—a series which, ironically, features a blind character as its hero. Netflix has now resolved this issue and added audio description to its soundtrack for Daredevil.
> 
> Since then, the show doesn't seem to be talked about much in our community. By contrast it seems to be gaining a couple popularity among the sighted public with which I come in contact, many of whose members have been curious about my thoughts on the series as a blind person. I am not subscribed to Netflix and therefore have not had the chance to watch this show for myself. So I would be interested to hear from those who have watched it. In what light do you think Daredevil portrays us, and what image do you think sighted viewers will get of the blind from this show? If you think this is a show which perpetuates misconceptions about the blind, how do you think the creators should alter the plot in order to portray a more realistic image of a blind person? Though I understand that Daredevil is in his superhero state a fictional character with superhuman qualities, I also understand that there are many instances throughout the show in which he is a "normal" blind person. I hope the blind haven't again been disappointed by our portrayal in these scenes. I look forward to reading your comments.
> 
> Chris Nusbaum
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