As the world becomes more connected, global media is shifting to keep international audiences in mind. By using accessibility tools such as subtitles, more viewers are able to take part in watching international shows.
Senior Sam Barrozo consumes media from many cultures including Korean dramas, Japanese dramas and shows from Filipino and Indian culture. Over time, Barozzo has noticed the slight variations that can change the mood of the media.
“I know that everyone around the world has different ideas and has a creative side to them, so it’s pretty cool to see a bunch of the same genres but a bunch of different story lines,” Barozzo said.“Everyone talks differently and everyone thinks differently. It’s just amazing to see how we’re all human and yet, we interact differently throughout different parts of the world.”
Media is used for different purposes, and for world language teacher Justin Williams, it is an educational tool. Williams’ use of foreign media allows his students to immerse themselves in hearing the language being actively used in context.
“You can deep dive into history and current events and language acquisition using visual media,” Williams said.
Along with the visual aspects, subtitles provide viewers with a clear alternative to following the plot. For junior Vishva Ravi, the subtitles clarify what is being said by the actors, but he finds himself focusing on the closed-captions.
“I think they helped me keep up with the movie,” Ravi said. “But I think by focusing half of my attention on the subtitles, at the same time, it takes away from what’s really showing up on the screen.”
Instead of using subtitles to catch missed words or stay aligned, Williams uses them as another way to learn new languages.
“I’m trying to learn Mandarin at this point, and on Netflix, they have the subtitles in Mandarin that are exactly alike,” Williams said. “I’ll watch them (movies) in Mandarin with Mandarin subtitles on. Those will be absolutely spot on with what they say.”
Beyond learning and comprehension, many feel subtitles play a role in making media more accessible to society, allowing more people to engage with movies and shows.
“For people who can’t hear properly, it (subtitles) definitely gives them a better experience because they can still keep up with the movies no matter what, even if they have hearing aids and stuff like that,” Ravi said.
Increased accessibility also allows more people to watch international media. Exposure to these shows gives viewers like sophomore Arya Gupta the chance to learn more about cultures he would not have otherwise.
“It’s (international media) showing me the culture from a place that I haven’t been to,” Gupta said. “The only other ways I can know about the culture is either reading about it or visiting it, but this is showing it to me.”
While Gupta focuses on gaining general cultural knowledge, others like Barrozo pay attention to the smaller details, such as the way characters engage and converse with one another.
“It’s really interesting to see how mannerisms are through different cultures. Whenever I watch it (international shows) dubbed, I feel like I’m making it more Americanized,” Barrozo said. “I really want to be into learning all these different mannerisms and how people interact with each other. The difference between how we are here and then them being halfway around the world and how they speak to each other, I find all that really cool.”
According to Gupta, as global media gains popularity, producers and streaming platforms have begun to keep international audiences in mind.
“Nowadays, there’s so many different shows that originated in other countries, but people here like it and the revenue is more from that,” Gupta said. “I guess producers and writers are thinking more about international audiences.”
Williams believes production shifts have made once-overlooked cultures more seen since viewers have the opportunity to engage with media around the world.
“Concepts of Korean culture, Asian cultures and Indian cultures were fairly invisible. I mean, utterly invisible,” Williams said. “It’s kind of a golden age for the consumption of worldwide media, which is great. It allows people to really broaden their horizons, and at the same time, without sort of forcing them to. The idea is more that if you want to enjoy that type of stuff, it’s right there.”