Politics of vulnerability as an ethical framework for audiovisual translation and media accessibility Politics of vulnerability as an ethical framework for audiovisual translation and media accessibility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7968.2025.e106495Keywords:
vulnerability, deconstructive translation studies, creativity, audiovisual translation, media accessibilityAbstract
The contemporary audiovisual landscape is defined by a tension between the overproduction of content and the emergence of works that reflect unique bodies and voices. This context challenges us to reconsider the role of audiovisual media in shaping communities and constructing subjectivities. Within this polysystem of images, audiovisual translation (AVT) and accessibility (MA) emerge as vital practices for shaping subjectivities and discourses—whether in research, teaching, or professional settings—while simultaneously grappling with the pressures and contradictions of the industry. This paper highlights the urgent need to critically examine the industry’s ‘disembodying’ dynamics, including the fragmentation of works, unrealistic delivery timelines, automated selection systems, and the growing reliance on machine translation and post-editing. These practices undermine the creative and ethical dimensions of AVT and MA, distancing individuals from their responsibility toward the “other”. Moreover, they have a considerable impact on audiovisual works as multimodal artifacts. Using a theoretical framework grounded in deconstructive translation studies and a methodology of conceptual and argumentative development, this study explores the fall of the body in translation, the concept of trembling, and the obscuring of authorship in both original and translated texts. It argues for an ethical repositioning of translating bodies and the works they produce, emphasizing vulnerability as a fundamental aspect of human creativity. This perspective not only critiques the automation-driven direction of AVT and MA, but also advocates for tangible improvements and the recognition of authorship within the industry. Finally, the paper underscores the importance of integrating theoretical advancements in AVT and MA into film studies, asserting their significance in contemporary discourse on the image.
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