EPSE 525

Joy Gong
Sept 14, 2015

Module 2 Discussion Post

After reading through Chapter 1 in the textbook by Tom Humphries (2008), the author explained
the importance of introducing Deaf Culture through collecting literature and art created by Deaf
people in the community, not for the public eye but allowing the culture to speak for itself (p.38-
41). Historically, many Deaf communities were strongly oppressed by people in the hearing
world, and prevented from voicing their own opinions and treated unequally. Additionally, Deaf
people also had a reason for staying silent and showing reluctance in sharing their own culture
with the outside community, as explained by Humphries, [t]here were some struggles in this
process [of sharing]. After an early wrong path, telling our story to hearing people and having
them tell it back to us, we have been getting the secret out ourselves and [m]ost early works
that attempt to describe ASL and a culture of Deaf people were by hearing people reporting what
they had learned from us (Humphries, 2008, p.36).
Since the last 40 years, the mindset of Deaf people sharing and talking Deaf Culture has
progressed, displaying a collection of Deaf Art and Literature with the public is a way to reclaim
what Deaf Culture means to Deaf people and to assemble the material of [their] world that is
unique to [them]. This has been an incredible task as most Deaf Studies scholars know
(Humphries, 2008, p.37). This evolution in culture talking may be a result of a growing
awareness and knowledge of the Deaf community, followed by strong support from hearing
allies and active Deaf leaders over the years, such as George Veditzs speech on preservation of
ASL to a large scale protest from the Deaf community and its allies who rallied for Deaf
President Now at Gallaudet University.
Currently, young Deaf children and adults have fostered relationships with people outside of the
Deaf community, and do not seem to share [previous generations] compulsion to talk culture,
and perhaps that is a wonderful sign. But I think that wenow need to achieve a balance
between the rhetoric of talking culture that too often seeks to prove something and talking
culture that is about the circulation and acceleration of culture (Humphries, 2008, p.41).
Below are examples of Deaf Art and Literature that I have included in this post.
Deaf Art
After browsing through collections and pictures in Deaf Art, I have listed below some examples
of artwork that really stood out to me arranged in order from 1972 to 1999 to show progression
of thoughts and ideas through the years.
Betty G. Miller, Ameslan Prohibited, 1972, ink on paper
This picture depicts a strong image of oppression. In this time period, Deaf people were
constantly oppressed and restricted from using sign language in Deaf schools, and forced to use
listening and spoken language.
Susan Dupor, Family Dog, 1991, Acrylic
EPSE 525
Joy Gong
Sept 14, 2015

The picture of the Family Dog shows that the girl was treated equal to that of a lower class by
hearing-non signing family members. She was most likely praised for behaving well like a
"good girl", wearing hearing aids and using simple phrases and gestures, rather than as an
individual capable of having skills to communicate with others. In addition, the family members'
faces are blurred, as if comparing speech reading or listening through TV static.
Ann Silver, Deaf Identity Crayons: Then & Now (Crayon Box Series), 1999. Mixed Media
Deaf Identity Crayons art shows two opposite views one from the past, with negative labels by
the hearing world, and the other with a more modern design showing a sense of Deaf strength
and pride, with empowering labels. It shows that Deaf people are starting to speak out, and
showing what Deaf culture really is.
Deaf Literature
In Deaf Literature, there are many ways for Deaf authors to show readers a glimpse into their
daily lives, some with a sense of longing and others with a sense of humor. I have listed a few
titles from a collection of stories and poems in the book: Deaf American Prose 1980-2010 by
Kristen Harmon and Jennifer Nelson (Eds).
Homecoming by Aaron Weir Kelstone
The story helped me to develop a greater understanding of how it feels to finally be part of a
community that they belong in.
How to Write like a Hearing Reporter by Tom Willard
This short excerpt demonstrated a humorous way of Deaf people looking at how hearing
reporters write about people in the Deaf community.
There is another piece of symbolic work in the ASL Literature series that I really enjoyed
learning from, called Bird of a Different Feather and For a Decent Living by Sam Supella and
Ben Bahan. The Bird of a Different Feather story clearly portray the different perspectives of
hearing community and Deaf community through an animal form an eagle family while
paralleling the real world, a hearing family with a Deaf child and what they do to support that
child.
After exploring the history of Deaf Culture through Deaf Art and Literature, and the readings -
some of the questions/comments I have are:
- In chapter 1, Tom Humphries mentioned Put simply, we need to move on from How are we
different? to How are we being?, I am interested in learning further what the progress will
look like.
- In the past, usually the first point of contact for a Deaf child in a hearing family are the doctors,
who hold, and some still do, pathological views. Times are changing, and there are new
generations of young healthcare professionals entering into the field of medicine, I wonder how
EPSE 525
Joy Gong
Sept 14, 2015

these young professionals will gain access and exposure about the Deaf community and make
inclusive choices that will allow the community to also have a voice?
EPSE 525
Joy Gong
Sept 14, 2015

References
Humphries, T. (2008). Talking culture and culture talking. In Bauman, H. L. (Eds.), Open
your eyes: Deaf studies talking. (Chp 1, pp. 38 41). Minneapolis MN: University of
Minnesota Press.
Harmon, K., & Nelson, J. L. (2012). Deaf American Prose 1980-2010. Washington, DC:
Gallaudet University Press.
Selected Touring Works. (n.d.) Retrieved from:
http://www.deafart.org/Artworks/Selected_Touring_Works/selected_touring_works.html
Bahan, B. J., & Supalla, S. J. (1992). Bird of a different feather & For a decent living. San
Diego, Calif.: DawnPictures.