A Reception Study on Enjoyment of Audiodescription by Turkish End-Users: An Analysis through Latour's Actor-Network Theory (ANT)

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the actors affecting the enjoyment of audiodescription (AD) of TV series/films by Turkish end-users, i.e., blind and visually impaired persons (BVIP), through Latour’s Actor-Network Theory (ANT, 1987, 2005). This interdisciplinary reception study claims to improve AD, a mode of audio-visual translation (AVT), practices further in Türkiye giving media accessibility (MA) providers a perspective to enhance end-users' experience. In this regard, the research could guide the human actors collaboratively working to create national standards for AD, namely government authorities, MA and translation studies (TS) scholars, and AD practitioners, in light of end-users' own ideas.

In this vein, the present research using both quantitative and qualitative methods investigates how and why adult Turkish end-users enjoy AD. Positioning AD within the broader context of MA, this study aims to reveal all the human and non-human actors playing a role in the AD process and their aggregations to create an enjoyable viewing experience for BVIP based on their needs and expectations. The negotiations and compromises those actors make are also demonstrated to contribute to the improvement of AD in Türkiye. The findings could also be inspirational for the global context of MA.

This dissertation is based on the statistical results of an online questionnaire responded by 72 participants and reflexive thematic findings of a semi-structured focus group discussion with the participation of 6 people among the online survey participants. They present that AD is enjoyable mainly because it enables comprehension, concentration, and socialisation. To this end, there are other actors influencing these variables such as instant access to audio-described versions of TV series/films, the AD quantity and quality, the audio-describer's voice, and so on.