The book “Deaf Again” is unique because the author has been on both sides of the spectrum. He had been hearing for some time and now is Deaf. He shows each viewpoint and doesn’t make it just for hearing or just for the Deaf. This author is also unique in showing his feelings for both hearing and also being Deaf.…
The book starts with Louise and Thomas a couple who has one child, a son, Bruce. When Bruce is three, he gets German measles or rubella. After finding this out, Louise discovers that, she is pregnant with their second child. When Louise took Bruce to the doctor to get all of the information on the measles, the doctor was worried about Louise’s pregnancy, even thought she was not very far along. The doctor said that being around someone with these measles could possibly cause congenital defects for the baby. Of course, upon hearing this, Thomas and Louise went through a very worrisome and anxious nine months until the baby was born.…
Through Deaf Eyes is an insightful documentary detailing the history of both deaf culture and deaf education and describing many of the struggles which were encountered during the deaf communities fight for recognition. There were several points of interest in the film that I feel are crucial to understanding the deaf community; first, is the method used to educate deaf children. The early 19th century was a time of reform, especially in the religious community; it was believed that anyone could be saved as long you chose to believe. Many teachers of deaf students saw their role in the child (rens) life as slightly missionary. They could help save the deaf child from eternal damnation and in the process return the child to the hearing world.…
Four common characteristics of minorities that underpin affiliation are (1) the group shares a common physical or cultural characteristic such as skin color or language, (2) individuals identify themselves as members of the minority and others identify them in that way, (3) there is a tendency to marry within the minority, and (4) minority members suffer oppression. To a large extent, members of the Deaf minority also share a common language (ASL in the U.S.) and, because of their common physical characteristic, that language will never die out. On the second count, Deaf people do indeed identify themselves as culturally Deaf and, third, they marry Deaf nine times out of ten. Both Carlin`s and Luczak`s poems, for example, reflect the opposite oppression that members of the Deaf World experience. In some ways like the members of other language…
In this book, Deaf in America, by Carol Padden and Tom Humphries, the two authors wrote stories, jokes, performances, and experiences of Deaf people. They also wrote Deaf culture and Deaf people’s lives from various angles. This book is great navigator of Deaf world for hearing people and even Deaf people as me. There are several factors attracting reader. To begin with, I could learn about backgrounds of deaf people and hearing people. Authors wrote about a Deaf boy who was born into a deaf family. Until he discovered that a girl playmate in neighborhood was “hearing”, he didn’t notice about “Others”. Authors explained, “She was HEARING and because of this did not know how to SIGN; instead she and her mother TALK” (Chapter 1). This story strongly impressed me. I was born into a Deaf family too, but I grew up with hearing grandparents. In my childhood, I did intensive oral training with my grandparents. So, I can sign JSL and talk Japanese smoothly. Therefore I never felt emotion like this occasion, “Others” to hearing people. The next factor is difference of “Deaf” and “deaf”. For example, the capitalized “Deaf” people are not only “deaf” but also user of Sign Language. I haven’t known the meaning of “Deaf” and “deaf” exactly before, thanks to this book, now I can understand. When I analyzed myself, I identified as “Deaf” because I truly cherish Sign Language. In addition, Sign Language is explained as a primary mode of communication for Deaf people including me. It has full access to communication for us. Unfortunately, some hearing people misunderstand that Sign Language is a kind of gestural communication. Authors wrote about it, “ASL are often thought to be direct representations of spoken words” (Chapter 3). In my country, Japan, there are some misconceptions about JSL too. Sign Language has both iconic and abstract concept.…
For my research paper, I read Deaf Like Me by Thomas S. Spradley. This is the story of Lynn and her parents learning to accept her deafness. This is set in the 1960s. During this time, there were fewer medical advancements compared to today, such as the rubella shot. There was also not much of an understanding disabilities and people who faced issues with deafness. Tom and Louise Spradley were a couple that had one child, Bruce. Bruce gets diagnosed with rubella just as Louise finds out she was pregnant. The doctor said that it would not cause too many complications. In April of 1965, Lynn was born. Lynn was “a perfectly normal baby girl”. During the Fourth of July, her parents noticed that while the fire trucks drove down the road she had no reaction as most babies would to such a loud noise. Her parents were confused as to whether or not their baby was deaf or not as she would laugh at funny things they would say or do.…
It was interesting to hear, and see, what kind of challenges that deaf people faced. One of the people I found interesting was. A hearing French professor had brought the language from France and that was how it signing had started. I thought that was interesting, because not only was it a long time to create a form of communication for the deaf community; they were also mistreated for their inability to communicate with the rest of the world. Another person that I found interesting, was Alexander Gram Bell, had a wife and mother, who were deaf. On top of that, it was startling at first, to hear that the deaf community treated him as a sort of “boogeyman.” I found it fascinating that he is well known in a hearing class for inventing the telephone, but in the deaf class, he is known for starting the Oralism form of communication in the deaf community. Along with that, Bell fought against having sign language being taught, because he felt that it was a “borrowed language.” Instead he wanted the people community to learn to speak and read lips. It was interesting to hear, because I assumed that most people who were deaf just learned sign language for their communication.…
Ryan Commerson, producer and host of the movie “Media, Power & Ideology: Re-Presenting D-E-A-D”, states that all the preconceptions societies have about people being born deaf is because of “ideology”. He uses Valentin Voloshinov’s definition of the word to later explore its significance in more depth. Ideology: “The dimension of social experience in which meanings and values are produced”. Furthermore, he continues exploring the first persons that tried to describe deaf people back in the 18th century. He explains that at first these persons, like author John Conrad Amman, one of the first ones to write about speech and how deaf people could learn how to communicate, had many misinterpretations of how deaf people really is and what are they capable to. Commeron continues saying that even thou they used very degrading terms to describe deaf people they were judging them wrongly since most of deaf people grew up without any education. The fact that all these people wrote about them, Cammeron says, it brings this false ideology to our present.…
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.(“Brainy Quote)” -Confucious. The unique heritage of hard of hearing culture is very affluent and astonishing. Understanding the desires of others wanting to learn about the history behind the hearing impaired will come across critical events like the “Deaf President Now” movement that essentially granted Gallaudet University its first ever deaf president, learn about the expansion of personal hearing assistive technology past and present, read about the vicious segregation in schools for the deaf, and learn about the thousands of historical figures that were hard of hearing.…
The key points of Chapter 4 in “Deaf Theater” are to show the reader that theater shares many of the same themes as storytelling, theater is also used to level the entertainment field, and is based on a carnival experience, were people from all backgrounds can come together and enjoy the same show. Another important point in this chapter is explaining what makes Deaf theater unique. Deaf theater allows the Deaf performer a platform to showcase their abilities and pass on morals through their stories and performances.…
Thomas K. Holcomb’s book, Introduction to American Deaf Culture, shines a light on the deaf community and the culture they experience. The intended audience, however, is the hearing. It gives the reader insight on deaf experiences and how the atmosphere is different, even though the environment is the same. All aspects of culture are covered. The book starts off with how the culture is formed through the 5 hallmarks (p. 17). Next, the book focuses on the identity of a deaf person. This is not only limited to, labeling from the rest of the world, but also by how the person sees himself. After, the book discusses the core values the deaf community has. These values are much different when compared to the hearing community. They focus on the person engaging as a full member of society. This is done through communication, interacting, and having a sense of self-worth in the community (104-107). Eventually, literature and art are mentioned. The classifications are difficult to place. There are American works, but with the growing awareness in the recent year they have earned their own Deaf category. This is important to the deaf community because it allows “Deaf people’s lives to be better…
As I read Deaf Again by Mark Drolsbaugh I can relate to Mark because I’m taking American Sign Language. Mark was born into deaf culture because both of his parents are deaf, however he was associated him self around hearing people. He conformed to the hearing world. I find that very hard to especially having deaf parents. I found interesting that he wasn’t deaf his whole life up in till the first grade he found something to be out of place. When I first took this class I didn’t know what I was getting my self into, if I was going to enjoy it or not. I was like Mark didn’t know how I was going to feel learning sign language if I was going to be able to grasp it. I’m still having trouble with it but I eventually will get it as I practice more. Mark had more poor signing skills because his peers were hearing that he went to school with, as well as his aunts and uncles and grandparents. It must be hard growing up with deaf parents especially being able to hear. He learned to associate him self with deaf culture and hearing culture. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like growing up with deaf parents.…
The word oppression still exists in the everyday lives of women but has changed its tyrannical implications, meaning there is no dictator to influence or force negative actions toward women gender. According to Iris Young, the author of the chapter Five Faces of Oppression, the word oppression has come to represent communities and individuals that are being discriminated by the way society is structured, rather than a single leader oppression. Most people do not think women are subjected to discrimination but it still exists, yet women individually have proven that they are able to overcome it.…
No one else is free while others are oppressed”, states Martin L. King. It is an essential claim that women are oppressed. What is oppression? Oppression is the subjugation by one group to another group. By being oppressed you are being denied your human right to be an equal. Equality should not be an unattainable ideal that is only imagined in a far off place. Equality should be realistic and true. However, is equality just an unrealistic ideal for women in today’s society? To achieve a goal of equality, oppression has to be dealt with in the way we talk, the way we live, and the way we are taught. The treatment of women in today’s society is related to culture and the society we are living in. Only by taking a couple steps back can you see that…
Art involving Deaf Visual and Image Art is known as De’VIA. De’VIA was an art movement inspired by deaf artists to “come out of the closet” during the early 1980s and late 1990s (Miller 303). To come out of the closet is to show pride in being deaf, instead of hiding their deafness or trying to imitate the hearing. Deaf people have a history comprise of discrimination, being ignored and oppressed by the hearing world. Thus, through their art they are able to represent their experience, culture and struggles; all of which offers a glimpse into their respective worlds and to open up our understanding of their life. Betty G. Miller and Chuck Baird are two deaf artists well known during the De’VIA movement. Their artworks conveyed how the world is seen through the deaf perception.…