Thundering Ableism (“Thunder Saga”)

EPIC: Thunder Saga spoilers

I recently listened to The Thunder Saga of EPIC (Official Concept Album) (created and written by Jorge Rivera-Herrans).

Overall, it was great, but there’s one line in the last song that bothers me.

In “Thunder Bringer” Zeus is singing and he says the lyrics, “…here to ring your ears until you’re deaf with fear”.

This is completely ableist.

One: These lyrics word deafness as a punishment or a bad thing to happen to a person.

Whether someone is born deaf or it happens after birth, it’s not automatically a bad thing. Each individual deaf person can express their own feelings about their own deafness.

Also, disability isn’t automatically a punishment from the Gods or whoever/whatever. Again, each individual disabled person decides what their disability or disabilities means to them. It can be an integral part of someone and who they are. Personally, my disabilities are a part of me. Nothing awful or tragic about that.

Two: Saying “deaf” when you’re not talking about actual deafness is not okay.

Because it has yet to be stated, it cannot be known for 1,000% certainty that Odysseus and/or any of the crew left go deaf out of fear.

Either way, deafness is a real disability real people go through and experience. It’s not okay to use the word “deaf” as an exaggeration or another way to say what you actually mean.

I usually like to offer substitutions in the case of ableist language. That being said, however, I need to hear what you (Jorge) meant by this line first.

I also want to note that this (ableist language) isn’t just a problem with this song. It’s a problem with many songs - with the entire music industry.

I talk about specific songs because many people still use ableist language. I’m talking about this specific song because this is the most recent example I have - and this is proof it still happens.

The music industry is incredibly ableist. The industry still doesn’t view disabled people as equal human beings. And this needs to change.

Also, I want to address a misunderstanding I see a lot:

When I say someone or something is ableist, I’m not automatically saying there is ill or malicious intent. It depends on the person or people involved.

There are people who don’t care about learning and doing better - who don’t care how their actions affect others. There are also people who are simply ignorant/uneducated about ableism and ways they might ableist. The latter, however, aren’t afraid of learning and doing better.

Overall, this group of lyrics in “Thunder Bringer” is not okay. Whether or not you (Jorge) meant to be ableist, it needs to be talked about.