Analysis of Subjectivity and Objectivity in Audio Description of Characters’ Mental States and Optimization Suggestions - Taking Green Book as an Example

Abstract

The debate over the subjectivity versus objectivity of audio description has long been a focal point in academic research. However, recent studies suggest that the two are not binary opposites but should instead be analyzed along a continuous spectrum. This paper employs the “thought-action continuum” evaluation model proposed by Palmer and Salway to examine the strategies and subjective-objective tendencies in describing characters’ psychological states in the English audio description version of Green Book provided by Prime Video. The findings indicate an overuse of strategies that make characters’ mental states explicit. Such strategies align with the “thought” end of the “thought-action continuum” evaluation model, demonstrating a strong subjective tendency. However, this approach does not align with the current academic emphasis on integrating subjectivity and objectivity along a middle ground. Therefore, this paper focuses on the main issues identified in Green Book and proposes corresponding optimization suggestions. The aim is to provide an improved approach for describing characters’ mental states in audio description—one that moderately shifts toward the “action” end of the continuum by incorporating objective behavioral cues. This study also offers a new perspective for research on the subjectivity and objectivity of audio description.