Chapters 60 - 70 For Hearing People Only

Chapter 60 -  Is the Internet going to destroy Deaf Culture?

My first thought is how can it destroy Deaf Culture? I my mind I can only think of ways it could help the Deaf Culture.

Page 353 states that “the Internet is a relatively Deaf-accessible medium.”  It seems that for quite a while Deaf clubs were a place where Deaf people could hang out with other Deaf people. This is where they socialized, watched movies, played games, and whatever other things they could do, just so they could be with other Deaf people.

TV came out with closed captions so Deaf people could stay at home and watch movies in their own living room. Then came the Internet and things really started to change. A survey showed that rather than watch TV, more and more Deaf people were surfing the Internet. Deaf chat rooms began to spring up on the Internet and rather than go to a Deaf club, they could stay at home and be with other Deaf people with the use of the Internet. I myself, Skype with my friends who live in other towns on a regular basis. I can’t afford to go see them, so I use my Internet.

Deaf people have the ability to email people, instant message people, skype, as well as get into chat rooms. They are not limited to communicating with only other Deaf people. The sky is the limit as to who and how they can talk with others.

The Internet gives Deaf people, who may not like to get out much, the ability to “travel” and see places on the Internet. They can shop; get instruction, medical and financial advice, just to name a couple, with a click of the mouse.

I guess the only down side, as seen in hearing as well, is you can become addicted to the Internet and do nothing much of anything else. To think this would destroy the Deaf culture is crazy, if anything it has helped the Deaf culture in that they can be exposed to so much more and in a comfortable environment. I think it is a great thing.

Chapter 61 – Are deaf people stereotyped?

It appears that deaf people are stereotyped, even in Hollywood.

There have been many shows and movies that have portrayed a deaf character in many ways. In some they are the weak and victimized poor soul. They are portrayed as lonely people with no friends. They have been a character that taught a lesson to the hearing and they all lived happily ever after. Some are in shows as being sent from God or evil and cursed by God.

In any case, yes, deaf people are stereotyped. Unfortunately the hearing world sometimes believes that a deaf person has these traits and lives these lives…especially the negative ones.

The last line on pg 363 sums it up rather well, “Stereotypical thinking is a symptom of ignorance. Ignorance is the most devastating of all disabilities, but the most easily cured.”

I just never realized how deaf people are stereotyped until I read this. I remember some of the shows mentioned…if not that show, one that is similar. A deaf person being a victim, sad, lonely, or evil on shows of today. I hope that in 2013 people don’t still fall for that character portrayal as it is so far from the truth.

Chapter 62 – Is there a Deaf Literature?

I really don’t see why there wouldn’t be Deaf Literature. I know from earlier reading that many Deaf have trouble reading so probably trouble with some writing, but that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be any Deaf Literature.

The literature would include poetry, fiction and non-fiction, plays, journalism, and much more. The main difference would be, pg 365, the distinction between “literature expressing a Deaf viewpoint and Literature created by Deaf people” the two are quite different.

Since the 1820’s there have be many professional deaf writers. They have written in many genres. These authors have been very successful. Today there are Deaf writers who write in ASL. There is no way it is written. The stories are “written” and performed on video cams for the Deaf to “read”. I think this is great! It is their language so why not write in their language. Other authors write in other languages other than English and are successful, so why not ASL? There is already mime and pantomime which is a story acted with out words, and people love that.

I guess when I first heard of “deaf literature” I was thinking of someone who is deaf writing…..on paper. It never occurred that it could also include someone writing in the language of the deaf, which is the ASL. This is a pretty cool thing.

Chapter 63 – Can you help me determine which films have a guaranteed appeal for deaf viewers?

My first thought would have to be anything with action. I had forgotten about the silent ones from the early years of movies. The main thing is the deaf could not hear the music that was played, but they could easily follow the story plot.  I also did not consider that this was a good time for the deaf to be working in the movies. There were no talking scripts and the technical crew had no problems.

When the talkies took over things changed for the deaf. Couldn’t follow the plot and many workers had no work.

It amazed me to learn that a man in 1947 took the time to splice captions in to talkie movies. What an incredible thing for someone to do to help the deaf. Seems like at that time many wanted to do away with the deaf and here was someone, on his time, helping.

Another way for deaf to enjoy a movie, and a movie that I would NEVER want to attend would be a foreign film. I would never want to read a movie. But I guess for the deaf it was welcomed.

As I had guessed, the number one movie a deaf person would enjoy is the Action film. Can’t know the dialogue… but the action is good.

Then there is the way of reading the book before watching the movie. A thought that makes perfect sense, other than, in many cases the movie is not always like the book, but I can see how it would help.

Waiting until it comes out in DVD and have captions is a choice. I think it is great that there are some places like Philadelphia or LA that have movies that are open – captioned in theatres…the new movies.

I’m not a big moviegoer myself; I would rather watch it in my home. I can see how being able to go to the movies like everyone else would be important to hard of hearing or the deaf. I is good there are options for this type of entertainment.

Chapter 64 – Can all deaf people dance?

Deaf people as much ability to dance as a hearing person. Some hearing people dance terribly as do deaf, which some hearing dance well and do deaf. Common sense tells us they do not “hear” music the same as hearing, but they can pick up on the beat and from that they can dance. One thing that can have an impact on whether or not a deaf person can dance is if the deafness affects their balance. Balance is an inner ear thing and deafness can lead to some one being off balance. I have been told many times how I couldn’t walk until I was 16 months old, as I had no balance. I had had a lot of fluid behind my eardrum and got tubes on my first birthday. It was 4 months later, once the fluid was gone, that I could walk. I had not connected this to a deaf person not having balance and possible dance issue.

According to the book, on page 377, “what’s required is sharp eye, alertness, sensitivity to rhythm, and coordination – the same skills any good dancer develops” The rhythm is not felt from the floor but as it travels in the bones of the deaf person.

I remember when Marlee Matlin was on Dancing with the Stars, I thought how is she going to do this? She did a good job. As does the dance troupes with deaf people in them. Gallaudet University has one and apparently does a great job. I think it would be neat to watch.

It boils down the facts that some deaf people can dance just as some hearing people can dance. If you have good coordination…you have a good chance of being able to dance.

Chapter 65 – Can Deaf people appreciate music at all?

For those who care they main thing a deaf person can get from music is the booming rhythms from the percussion. Some do not care much about music at all.

At the deaf get – togethers they have discos with VERY loud music. I can only imagine how loud the music gets. As with anything, some enjoy themselves and dance the night away.

Not a watcher of MTV, I was not aware of the closed – captioning of many of the videos. Many deaf enjoy watching the “visual rhythms and body language” and thus enjoy watching MTV.

Then there is the “sign – songs” in that popular songs are translated and many enjoy that. I have seen translators to the side of a singer, translating the song. I have seen the National Anthem translated many times.

As the book says, the people who are losing their hearing have the most difficult time with music. I, myself, love music and can only imagine how I would feel if I couldn’t enjoy it due to losing my hearing. My computer is full of all kinds of music I enjoy listening to.

It seems that there are successful deaf musicians that are successful, Beethoven for example. “But most Deaf people don’t enjoy music, as they don’t understand it; music appreciation is a foreign concept.”

Chapter 66 – do signsongs make sense?

It seems that to some deaf people there are negative feelings towards the singsongs in that they are not truly the way traditional ASL performances usually are. On page 386 is states that,”signsongs are more of a Hearing form of expression than a deaf one.” They seem to perform for a hearing audience rather than a deaf audience. The hearing doing the signsongs doesn’t have the authenticity. It looks nice when watching but is it truly ASL with the facial expressions and such. It is “performed in straight signed English-sung lyrics with signs pasted onto them, word for word.” It is not done in true ASL so a deaf person would understand. It is almost insulting to a deaf person. To take their language and not use it correctly. It may look artistic and or pretty to a hearing person in the audience. If a deaf person was watching, chances are, they would probably great difficulty understanding the song.

I can see how this would not be something many deaf people would like to watch. Almost like people are making fun or or insulting the ASL. I myself enjoy watching ASL being used as communication. I don’t think I could look at it as entertainment. So why do signsongs? To the deaf, “their” language doesn’t make sense when done in signsongs.

Chapter 67 – Do deaf people show a slight difference in their facial anatomy?

This is probably the stupidest question yet! I was not aware that deafness was called the “invisible handicap”, but I can see how it is called that. If deaf people had difference in facial anatomy, like Downs, then why have so many children be misdiagnosed?

There is no difference in the lips, eyes, eyebrows, checks, or any part of a deaf person’s face to look at them and think, “oh wow, they are deaf”!

I am aware that deaf people use their face as part of communication but that is just using the muscles for the conversation. There is no difference between the face of a deaf person and a hearing person.

Pretty crazy idea that people think there is!!

Chapter – 68 Don’t Deaf people have to wear dark colors?

What I thought was another stupid question…. turned out to be quite interesting and not so stupid. The Deaf person, themselves, in everyday living do not have to wear black. They can wear anything they want to wear. What is popular for hearing is as popular for a deaf person.

One type of thing that deaf people are careful of is what is worn on the head. Sunglasses, hats, and ski masks can cover parts of the face that is used for expressions. I never considered that facial hair could interfere with the use of the face in conversations.

Wearing dark clothes is actually something an interrupter would wear. If they are signing for the deaf, wearing bright clothes, patterned clothes, and lots of jewelry can interfere with the signing.

As I read this chapter, it made perfect sense that interrupter would have to consider what is worn especially if they are signing and the deaf person were on the other side of the room. I will have to keep this in mind if I interrupt for an athlete in my future.

Chapter 69 – Sleeping with the light on??

I myself have to have a nightlight….but to learn that deaf people sleep in total darkness…I couldn’t do that!

I understand that since lights are used as a means to get a deaf person’s attention that they would want total darkness in order to sleep. But if it were me, I would want to be able to see around me if I woke up. Just to make sure no one uninvited was in my room or house.

Interesting that children at residential school have to be forced to sleep with lights out even if they are accustomed to it from their house. Learning that couples have to come to a solution when one is deaf and wants total darkness to fall asleep, the other can read or watch TV at night. Even the light under a door can prevent a deaf person from going to sleep.

Lights that give me a heart attack, red and blue, can be ignored by deaf. Don’t think they are ignored on a police car, but installed in a house so if someone turns on hall light at night it won’t wake a deaf person up.

These last few chapters have what seem to be stupid questions and yet have some interesting answers I would of never thought of. I still would need a light on to sleep.

Chapter 70 – Are deaf people visually sharper than hearing people?

I have always been told, I think, that when you don’t have one sense, the others are better or more sensitive. I guess since someone can’t hear, they have to rely more on the other senses. A deaf person is “more alert about taking in and processing visual messages.” It is more of a survival skill that anything. Keep in mind that not all deaf people are as good as others when it comes to picking up on visual messages.

It is not that they hear better or sharper, a deaf person has to use the other senses to a higher level since they can ‘t use hearing clues to get their attention.