D/Deafness and blindness Disability in Pop Culture

Influence of d/Deaf and blind Although you may not realized, there is some influence that d/Deaf and blind people have on our society and popular culture. For example: tactile and auditory art, auditory and visual transmission of information (signs/sound in transportation, in elevators; computer programs that speak out text or internet, programs that enable typing by dictating, developments in medicine – surgery of eyes and ears are possibel that can return the sight or hearing) But there are other ways of Deaf and blind cultures not impacting our pop culture that visibly… in art, performance, movies, etc.

Deaf performing art Deaf cabaret and comedy –CHALB in US, Deaf Comedians in UK Deaf poetry signing and competitions –1970s pioneer Dorothy Miles combined ASL (later BSL) and English. –Deaf singing in sign –Developed for signing in church by Christian missioners –Now SL professional groups all around the world

Deaf art Folk art: storytelling (comes from Native American Sign language tradition developed to communicate across tribes by Plain Indians) Deaf visual art: themes of Deaf and Deafness

The family dog by Erick Ketcham

Video clips: Through Deaf Eyes lmmakers.html#videos lmmakers.html#videos -- Wayne Betts performs Vital Signs

Deaf singing-signing Example of a signing music group bBe4o&feature=PlayList&p=698DEFFE8D8 B1A5E&playnext=1&index=4http:// bBe4o&feature=PlayList&p=698DEFFE8D8 B1A5E&playnext=1&index=4 ASL uses specific rhythm, repetitions of signs/words, and the entire space of stage

Deaf magicians World Deaf Magicians Society

Deaf humor Humor and jokes about Deafness and about hearing people being fooled by the Deaf, usually related to learning ASL For example, Mary Beth Miller uses a joke in her performance and ask the audience during a break: “Do you mind if I have some water?” and inserts her hands into a glass of water.

Keith Wann: a CODA intersecting two communities Deaf drivers: NTI

Literature and text Not a literature, but a performance Deaf poetry, novels, stories, etc. Newspapers, journals and magazines –Since 1800s e.g. British Deaf News, ABC Deaf sports, National Union of the Deaf Newsletter, Federation of the Deaf The Voice (1998) in the UK –In the US: The Silent Worker (later Deaf American) … –Academic journals: American Annals of the Deaf, Volta Review – mostly ABOUT the Deaf what they DO but not what they THINK –Critical investigative journalism almost nonexistent

Literature and text Deaf literature, including poetry is created and performed, not written and read. A Deaf poet or author must be a good performer, with a gift of bodily expressions and dynamic stage presence incl. every nuance of movement of the mouth, eyes, eyebrows, head, shoulders, and so on (Bauman, Nelson, Rose, 2006)

Keith Wann: Watching the worlds collide Keith Wann signs, performs, and fingerspell Ice Ice baby nNY

Blindness and pop culture Impacts of blindness on popular culture: –Art by blind people –Tactile objects (maps, sculptures to touch, mountains at viewpoints…) –Side walks, curb cuts, –Auditory signs and signals (elevators, crossing street)

Blind artists and art Textures Braille Objects Sounds

Movies about blindness Slepe lasky (Slovakia, 2008) Blindness (2008) – sci-fi Rozervana obeti (2009) The day of the triffids (book, movie) Ray Mask …

Any other ideas? Can you think of any other ways Deaf and blind cultures are presented in our popular culture and society?