I’m sure that the Deaf Vlog/Blog -o-sphere will soon be buzzing with people discussing the PBS program Through Deaf Eyes.
As I stated in my previous post about this program, I have many hearing individuals who read my blog, and thus I attempt to help them to gain some knowledge of the Deaf Community – to become more aware of our language, our culture, and our issues.
I hope that some of you had the opportunity to watch this program. Of course, I sat on my sofa and watched the entire thing from start to end.
What can I say, gang? This is my story. Those are my eyes. I could identify with much of what was being said…and with what wasn’t said as well. I could identify with the thoughts and the feelings and the frustrations and the sadness and the pain and the pride and the joy and humor and everything else…even if I haven’t personally experienced all of those situations for myself.
It was fun to watch the program and recognize so many of the faces. Some of them were my classmates at Gallaudet. Jack Gannon was my former boss when I worked in the Office of Alumni/Public Relations. Many of the others I have met over the years at Deaf events, conferences, workshops, etc.
I loved the “Planet Eyeth” concept, and the old-fashioned movie surrounding one’s attempt to arrive there.
I enjoyed watching the various films showing Veditz and other Deaf people over the years.
I chuckled at all the “remedies” shown for trying to fix hearing loss. I want to make it known that I have flown in one of those airplanes and even parachuted out of it, and I can attest to the fact that it doesn’t work – I’m still deaf. And hey…if someone wants to introduce me to Sean Connery and see if it shocks me into becoming hearing…I’m more than willing to give it a try!
I remember those audiological tests that I had as a child – I think by the fifth or sixth time, I had memorized that damn “baseball, airplane, playground” list by heart.
I remember having my own “WOW” experience at discovering that there were other people like me, and they used sign language, and we could communicate with each other in this manner. I remember how learning ASL opened up a whole new world to me. Yes, I still speak and I still lipread and I still interact with the hearing world…but the Deaf Community is my home.
It was a well-done program. Powerful. Emotional. Honest. Insightful.
So tell me…what did you think?
Additional Note: I want to encourage people to go to the PBS website to the page about this program – you will find links there for video clips from the program as well as some of the short deaf movies shown, and also a discussion guide that can be used to encourage some thought-provoking discussion for the classroom, groups, or just for your own benefit…perhaps to help you in developing your comment for this blog! You can find the links for these clips here:
videos of some of the interviewees:
http://www.pbs.org/weta/throughdeafeyes/resources/questions.html
videos of some of the short movies shown:
http://www.pbs.org/weta/throughdeafeyes/about/filmmakers.html#videos
This sculpture shows the sign for "connect"...and that is what Deaf Pagan Crossroads is all about - making connections. Connections between Deafhood and Paganism, connections between the Deaf Community and the Hearing Community, connections between myself as the writer and you as the reader. I hope you will take the time to read my various posts, some of which are listed below. Welcome to the Crossroads, and I hope you make some connections here!
im sorry osh , i didnt get to see it think bubba was into somthing else at the time, i have however watched other shows that centered around deaf people such as the dancer that wanted to join the dance team but they wouldnt let her cuz she couldnt keep up. but when sam convinces them to let her do it her way , she proved she could indeed dance if the music was blaring she could feel the vibration and dance to the music. and they let her into the dance school with a special teacher. all those with handicaps should be given a chance to prove themselves
Hi, Ocean,
Through Deaf Eyes just got over with here in Oregon. Before I read your post I wanted to quickly jot down some of my thoughts so that I don’t lose them all. A lot of things occured to me while watching this program. Foremost in my mind was an awareness that I was experiencing it as a hearing person, and I wondered how that experience differed from watching the show as a deaf person.
I found the program very interesting. The historical background gave me a more rounded understanding of the deaf community, the protest story at Gallaudet University was wonderful. The Alexander Graham Bell part was so interesting to me. He married a deaf woman, his mother was deaf, and then he invents a telephone… I wonder if the influence of signing and communicating with non-hearing persons was perhaps instrumental in turning his mind toward modes of communication? The story of the man who’s mother left him at boarding school because she couldn’t bring herself to tell him what was happening made me sad. How very confusing for a young child to be in that situation.
All this information was interesting, but it was some of the details of the interactions that really made me think about the different way we experience life as hearing and non-hearing people.
Like: I became very aware of how deaf people make visual contact when they communicate. When you’re watching for and giving signs as a mode of communication, there’s no cutting your eyes away and busying yourself with other things. To me, this is novel- I like the notion of paying attention when someone speaks. There is a courtesy to it that seems idealistic when compared to some of the interactions I experience in a busy, hurried life. It’s kind of sad to have just talked to someone, or several someones in the course of the day and realize you didn’t really connect to anyone. I wonder if the visual affirmation present in deaf communication diminishes that feeling for people who sign?
I am curious about music and the lack thereof in the deaf lifestyle. Music is important to me. It seemed as I was watching that rhythm was very experiencable without hearing, but music was not. I also wonder if music would be enjoyable to someone not accustomed to hearing. It has always been an assumption in my mind that a life without music would lack a lot of color. But I think there are probably dimensions to the world a deaf person experiences that a hearing person does not, as well. Simply the act of signing, the immersion in that language would be an example. I did not know sign language was so nuanced, and that there were different dialects for different regions.
Last observation: I was not really liking the little films throughout the program, that they showed by deaf artists. I think P.B.S. miscalculated because they had a rather distinctive sound-track to each of these. It was confusing to have the sound telling a story, and the deaf film-makers trying to tell their story at the same time. So I wasn’t liking those, until ‘Equilibrium’. Finally, on that film they used the soundtrack to go with the movie. You heard a version of what the person in the film was hearing, and it was enlightening and I felt, very well done.
One more thing, the poem… It was strange and quite enchanting to see language evoked with motion, not words. There was one sign I found particularly beautiful. If it went along accurately with the words on the screen, then the sign was ‘moonlight’. One hand seemed to make a small wave motion and the other hand came down almost on top of it, at an angle.
My analysis and examination on “Through Deaf Eyes.”
First of all, wow.
Wow.
And yes, in a very good way.
Of course, I can easily and articulately argue the negative aspects of the film for the sake of discourse and banter; however, this film does not deserve to be torn apart for scrutiny in a pessimistic way.
We all learned from this film whether your ego will allow it. We were able to learn about other people’s experiences, some history, and/or a gentle reminder of our past, and affirm with approval (or disapproval). We laughed, related with some of the people, and more importantly, we bonded once again on a national level. Mission accomplished.
There were portions of this film that has made me hold back tears and affirm how proud I am to be Deaf…and more importantly, how extraordinary and blessed I am to be part of a wonderful culture. I can finally recommend this film without reservation to my academic colleagues, to my hearing family, and to my fellow hearing comrades.
We got the chance to finally see many familiar faces (either actual or someone of similar personality) reflecting one of the many representations and personalities of who we are as Deaf person in a unique culture.
I applaud the National Endowment for the Humanities for making this film a reality and especially everybody who contributed to this film. It is a wonderful balance of diverse Deaf people expressing their testimonies, experience, and their Deaf ‘way.’
The film has given me so much satisfaction. Before watching the film, I grappled myself emotionally with a bottle of wine readily in case I would get (in which I predicted in any typical documentary on ‘deafness’) furious about a poor reflection of who we are especially aired nationally. I said a little prayer to Vendtiz that this film will be a good representation and understanding of, for, and with, the Deaf culture. It is been too long.
This film has given me a sense of relief. I finally drank my wine after being glued to the show for 2-hours, often times quickly glancing at how much time was left because I did not want the film to end. The film brought a smile to our society’s much-needed understanding on Deafness.
The film truly has captured its true intent; through deaf eyes.
In the spirit of Veditz,
D
Wow! I experienced a whole gamut of emotions while watching “Through Deaf Eyes”. I appreciated a balanced view of the issues, without preaching as to what the audience *should* believe or do.
I wish they had spent more time with the Supala brothers, and focused on their unique ASL “dialect”. I’ve seen some of their work (especially Sam’s) and find it absolutely fascinating as a true unique art form.
Mosdeux’s video masterpiece was excellent (as all their work seems to be). I had not seen that particular film previously.
Its too bad that so much time was spent on the DPN protest in 1988, in light of the recent “Anti-Protest” activites on campus.. I’m sure the program was already finished before the “recent unpleasantness” occurred, but the newest protest should have been mentioned.
One last observation about AG Bell and his ironic position with Eugenics. He was opposed to Deaf people marrying, and propogating a “deaf race of humans” but if his own mother had been prevented from “propagating,” AG Bell himself would bever have been born! He also opposed immigration to the US, but he himself was an immigrant from scotland, by way of Canada.
Great job, PBS!!
whitishrabbit –
I haven’t seen the documentary – it’s not showing in my area until Monday (great! *sarcasm*) so I don’t know what it said about music and the Deaf community.
But I have to response to what you said about “absence of music.” I beg to differ. I have many many friends (Deaf) who enjoys music and who loves dancing. So if that documentary said something to the effect that there’s an absence of music in the Deaf lifestyle – it’s a very inaccurate statement.
“There was one sign I found particularly beautiful. If it went along accurately with the words on the screen, then the sign was ‘moonlight’. One hand seemed to make a small wave motion and the other hand came down almost on top of it, at an angle.”
That’s the real POWER of ASL, how it transcends spoken language. The sign for “MOON” (two-fingered C from the forehead) on a rippling hand (singifying the water). It conveys far MORE than an English sentence ever could. Just one simple sign conveys the feeling of seeing the Moon reflected against the Sea, rippling tranquilly, while the emotional response to such a sight is reflected on the Signer’s face.
How do you put THAT into words? Which is EASIER, the quickly signed response, or a complicated verbal response? Which is TRULY language? Sign or Verbal???
Both my wife and I are Deaf, and the show left us with a sickening feeling in our stomaches.
The majority of the show focused on oralists and cochlear implant users. Honestly, they have no place on a show like this. They are hearing people with hearing problems. They don’t deserve the term “Deaf” to be applied to them.
A lot of oralists on that show really embarassed me big time… With their silly mouth movements (Let’s go to CCCCLLLARRKKEEEE School, whoo!- NOT)
There were a lot of Deaf people that didn’t even know how to sign properly in ASL on that show, and a lot of them were weak-minded deaf people that are still oppressed. They don’t deserve to be the voice (or rather, hands) for the rest of us.
Now, a lot of things were changed… I noticed that when an ASL Deaf person voiced their opinions, some of what they said on the captioning was changed or editted. I really didn’t appreciate that. That means hearing people are hearing the editted version of what ASL Deaf people are saying in that show.
On the positive side, it was nice to see people that we know in the show, and at least there were some ASL Deaf people or “Culturally Deaf” people on the show. Way to go. But, it reeked of audism.
Honestly, I don’t have the energy to go into it in detail or have a discussion on it, but those with a mind will know what I am talking about.
Best Regards,
Erick
WOW!
Some good comments have been expressed here by a diversity of readers who watched the program.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I don’t want to get into a lengthy rambling discourse in response to all of your statements (although I’m certainly capable of such!) but I’ll just make a few short observations…
Birch – sorry you were not able to see the program, but I think that PBS will air it again, so you might want to check and see if and when it might show up in your area again in the near future.
D and I_C – my feelings were much along the same lines as yours, and they ran the gamut of emotions as well. This program gave me a sense of satisfaction also for a job well done. I too thought it was well balanced and the information presented with little bias. It made me proud to be Deaf, and I had to hold back the tears as well.
Barinthus – Sorry you have to wait, but I assure you this program is well worth waiting for! I fully agree… there are many Deaf people who do enjoy music…perhaps in a different way, but nevertheless it is still a part of our lives.
Ken – great comment in regards to the power of ASL! You’re right…which is TRULY language?
Rabbit – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You do bring up an interesting point – that as a hearing person with little knowledge and understanding of the Deaf Culture, your experience of watching the program is going to differ considerably from the experience of someone who is Deaf. I think it is good to read your comments and thus have a chance to see the program “through hearing eyes” as the case might be.
In regards to your concerns about music, you might recall that the program showed a Deaf band of musicians and the way Deaf people do in fact incorporate music into their lives – although we may not experience it on the same level as hearing people do does not mean music is absent from our lives.
I can’t speak for the soundtrack of the little films being as I don’t hear it, but I thought the films themselves were all well done and added another dimension to the program.
Thanks to everyone for sharing your thoughts, and I encourage others to do so as well!
I watched it twice tonight. At first show, it was disturbed me by closed-captions and text appears right next to a sign word. After first show, I turned off the closed-captions, it was a little much better at certain ASL (Vital Signs! Far out!), but missed a lot of great information.
I consider it as a great program for hearing viewers and, perhaps, oralist (signing-impaired) viewers.
Respond to Erick Ketcham’s comment:
It’s the “Through Deaf Eyes” program. So, it happens to including oralist and cochlear implant users in our Deaf community. Yes, it’s irony, that they don’t using an eye for a primary communication.
Overall, it’s a good program.
The PBS Show was quite interesting.
I watched it through the beginning to end, but because of people and phone calls I didn’t get to actually ‘catch’ the whole thing.
I thought it was quite interesting the different techniques they tried in history to help the deaf hear, especially the one to ‘shock’ the kid into hearing by meeting Babe Ruth.. haha, He is one lucky guy. Then the one man talking about dates, and how his friends were all going on dates and he wanted to date too, and he had to have his mom ask the girl out on the phone and I wanted to cry.. actually I did cry, because I could picture it in my mind and almost feel his emotions.. I really don’t know how to explain it, but when I thought about how it went these days.. I remember how one of my sophomore friends cousin, he is deaf and he is a freshman.. and he thought I was really pretty so he talked to me online and asked me if I would say Hi to him in the hall way. He wears hearing aids, but I don’t really know how good his hearing. I knew who he was already, but in the IM he told me he was quite muscular and such, when really he is a skinny little shit, which is cute. End of story.. I say Hi to him every time I see him.
The humorous woman, I forget her name, which is awful cause I kept on saying it in my head so I wouldn’t forget for when I would write this post, but anyways I thought she was cute, I liked her attitude and she was smart. She made things interesting, haha.
It was cool, to see how the older couple who settled in the home that was ‘deaf friendly’ with a lot of space so they could sign to each other. That is when I realized that ASL is really a whole new language. Seeing them standing so far away and just signing.. made me think of anyone in the same place speaking English or Spanish. The old couple was cute, and I’m glad that they got that house haha.
I liked the technology part. Some people go on about how technology is just ruining us, but I mean come on.. Look how its helping deaf people contact with not only other deaf people, but everyone. Technology is just filling in the gap and I believe its proving and showing us all that we are equal and the difference between us isn’t really a difference at all.
Before I was interrupted by a phone call I got to see them talk about the contraption of the typewriter, and it made me think back when I was younger.. around 5 or 6. And for the people who don’t already know, My grandmother is deaf. And we had this little machine, with a tiny screen and a keyboard and you would put on the phone into these two sections for where you would talk and listen with the phone and in green lettering in the little screen would come up Hello! From my grandmother at her house. I remember I loved watching my grandmother type away, I was still young so I didn’t really understand the whole thing.. I only knew that when I grew up I wanted to learn how to do this so I could talk to my grandmother like this, but now as you can you see, there is sooo many new and improved ways, but now since they’ve moved back up from Florida I can just go visit them her with my car. Which will be this Saturday x) When I take her out for my birthday x)
Speaking of my grandmother.. I never really thought of her as deaf. I mean, I knew she was deaf.. but I never thought of her as deaf.. if that makes any sense. We talk with very little difficulty because she is very good at reading lips and I tend to use my hands when I talk so were a good match x) But hopefully I will get the time to take an ASL class and learn the language, because out of her whole family, minus her husband who has learned it through and with her, no one really has taken the time to try and learn sign language for her, and make it easier for her to communicate with us. Which I think is rude, but then again I haven’t either.. but my excuse is that they moved to Florida when I was around 8 and I thought they were going to stay there forever and we only got to visit once in awhile.. so my grandparents were kind of lost to me for the longest time. Its still a little different having them up here, sometimes I forget they are up here, haha.
In conclusion, haha. The whole presentation really made me think about a lot of things. And it was presented very well so it helped me to understand and almost connect to the people. Obviously I don’t know from first hand what they went through and how it felt, but I can assume and I can feel and care so I think that is good enough. I’m glad Mum told me to watch this, I just wished I could have really ‘watch’ all of it, but I’m glad I was able to watch what I did.
Oh and Mum, I saw your old University, It was cool cause when I saw it I was like, “Thats where Mum went!” Hahah and my friend was like.. what? Your mother is deaf? Hahahaahaha. I love you, Mum!
I saw the video last night on public television. I think it is an okay video. I am not satisfied with the content of the film.
It reeked of audism and paternalism in some ways. It concentrated too much on oralism and cochlear implanting.
It is rather disappointing as it did not focus enough on history through Deaf eyes. It focused too much on today’s technologies and the trend. It did not show enough of what actually happened in the past.
I am hoping for a sequel to correct the true image of Deaf.
=)
Many thanks to both Erick and Paul for sharing your thoughts! You’ve offered some interesting perspectives about the program that are quite thought-provoking.
I agree with some of your comments, and some I’m not so sure I do agree with you on. I do see your point that there was a lot of discussion about cochlear implants and oralism, etc. etc. However, I think the program was trying to go for a balance, and it is hard to discuss deafness without talking about these things as well.
The thing that I’ve been thinking about as a result of your comments is this…
“Who exactly was this program intended for?”
In another words, who were the producers expecting would be their main viewers? I don’t think this program was ever really intended to be for the Deaf Community – it was created as a program ABOUT the Deaf Community, to help educate hearing people about deafness. And the harsh reality is that for many hearing people, their idea of deafness is in making deaf people “normal” – speech, lipreading, cochlear implants, technology, etc. So I think that it would be difficult to do a program and not include these subjects.
But I do think that both of you have shown another side of the picture, and that is important – that we realize that not all Deaf people want cochlear implants, or consider having good speech and lipreading skills to be that essential. It’s important that we do see that viewpoint.
Perhaps in the future there will be a sequel to this program that will focus more on Deaf Culture itself.
But I think overall it was a good program for giving people a basic understanding of the world “through deaf eyes.”
It was a fantastic documentary regardless that it weighed a bit more on oralists, CI, etc. I have two hearing sons, one fell asleep at ten pm and my other one watched almost to the end. It would have been great to have announced this educational program on other popular channels so the public at large would tune into not so often seen PBS channel.
I would like to see more of a variety to a sequel. One would be to show how hearing parents devote to the successes of their deaf child into the mainstream society and vice versa on how deaf parents help their hearing child.
Kudos to all those who were on the program! It was good and a healthy balance of how we are all humans in such different ways. It is downgradingly depressing to listen to criticisms from those who do not approve different strokes for different folks! Move on!
My hearing daughter and her college roommate watched this program, too. She remarked that it bothered her that the interpreters did not fully voice everything that was signed, especially in the “Moonlight” section. The voice-over was disappointingly terse and ruined the mood of the poem.
I thought the program tried to cover too much in too little time and the editing was obviously extensive. There were spots where topics ended too soon, that the viewer felt were incomplete. It would have been better if the editors held to the concept “through Deaf eyes” and treated fewer topics in more depth. Adding CI’s at the end seemed like an afterthought.
I thought the program, over-all, was well balanced. In fact, I thought it very accurately showed Oralism and CI’s faults without being “militant Deaf” preachy.
It was made quite clear by the people they interviewed that Oralism and CI are tools NOT solutions. Did you notice very few of the people interviewed about CI or their Oral education actually spoke, they used sign. Almost all indicated that they felt like “coming home” when they met other Deaf people and learned sign. Some even said that Oralism caused them problems, because when hearing people saw them read lips they thought Deaf person was less deaf.
I agree entirely with the ASL levels shown. Though I doubt anyone who had no ASL knowledge would have picked up on it, probably 3/4 of the signers were signing PSE or something inbetween PSE and ASL. Only 1/4 were actually using full ASL.
Overall, I thought it is a well-balanced program, illustrating the differences between two different deaf communities and the struggles of the hearing people to ‘normalize’ us. Many of Clarke alumni use signing, just like many other ex-oralists, so that doesn’t surprise me. Some people disapprove the discussion of C.I. but whether we like it or not, it is permanently a part of the Deaf Community.
Overall, I feel this program is a microcosm, accurately capturing the lives of prelingually deaf people. It is neat seeing so many familiar faces there and also the artwork of people I know personally. Without a doubt, many deaf people share the same sentiments.
I found it an interesting documentary. After talking with Osh these many years, much of it was “old hat”, but for those that have no idea of Deaf Culture, it was an insight.
Though I know little of ASL or any other signing, I thought the voice-overs were good. They might not have been exact, I don’t know, but they did basically say the same thing. Nuances are harder in the speaking language, as are dialects. This can be related to blogging or e-mailing, where a nuance isn’t heard, so hurt feelings arise where there shouldn’t be any. And forget about dialects. I have trouble understanding people from the Deep South and extreme NorthEast. So I would suppose that interpreting the signs would have to show some of the same difficulties.
As for the oralists, this was how they were taught. I noticed one young man who had been raised in the hearing/oralist world that refused to do much more than sign. There was also an older man that did this.
When a Deaf person is in the hearing world, they have to resort to two different methods of communication. Either they write a lot of notes, or they try to speak. Sign is a “foreign” language to most of the hearing world. What I would like to see is a place that hired those with a second language actually accepting Sign as one of them. I don’t think there are many out there, if any. But many of you who are complaining about the oralists are forgetting that you are living in a hearing world.
I do see pros and cons about both Sign only and Signing/oralist. I also see pros and cons about CI’s. What it comes down to is what YOU, as the Deaf person, wants. You cannot make a decision for another, only for yourself.
I only caught the second half of it, and I don’t want to try to do a long analysis, but I have to say that I enjoyed learning more about the Deaf community and I liked the way it was presented.
I found the documentary very educational, interesting and emotional. I’m a hearing mother of a 5 year old deaf daughter that’s used a cochlear implant since 12 months of age. My husband and I did a great deal of research before making the decision to have her implanted. We based our decision on the fact that she wouldn’t be able to decide for herself for many years. Her main form of communication is auditory/verbal, but we learned ASL and use both on a daily basis.
We’ve been involved in various organizations since her birth, my husband served as a parent representative on the state commission for the deaf, deafblind, and HH. We try to expose her and teach her about deaf culture so she can decide as she grows up where she feels comfortable. We only want what’s best for our daughter and her needs whatever they may be.
She watched some of the documentary with me, although she’s not quite at an age that she really understands all of it. Overall, I think the documentary “Through Deaf Eyes” is a great tool for awareness and understanding of the aspects of living in a deaf world directed at a hearing audience.
Hi emilyrez ~
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and telling us a bit about your daughter. It sounds to me like you and your husband are two very caring parents who made the best decision possible from amongst wide variety of choices. From what I can see, it appears you are giving your daughter the best of all possible options – not only the auditory/verbal input of the CI, but also the visual and linguistic input of ASL. Your attitude seems to be a very positive one that in my humble opinion should only serve to help your daughter thrive and grow, and be comfortable in making her own choices as she grows older.
Thanks for posting and I wish all of you the very best – keep me posted on how your daughter does!
~ Ocean
I’m a strong supporter of bilingual ASL/English education because I think more students get access to a better and more “whole” education in ASL/English bilingual settings.
And I am glad the documentary included all those examples of oral deaf people and oralism. Why? Because, in a nutshell, when oral deaf people are compared to adults who have a strong language foundation in ASL, it becomes very clear why ASL is such a huge benefit.
Consider:
1) Most of the deaf people who spoke had such unclear speech that the filmmakers had to add subtitles. A lifetime of speech training and yet those adults still cannot speak intelligibly enough to be understood by the general population in their own country. How sad.
2) There were quite a few references to “oral failures”. I doubt that parents and hearing people in general are aware of the ugly, dark secret of oralism: there are many, many oral failures walking among us. What parent wants to risk robbing their child of knowledge and experience by turning their child into an oral failure? (Next trend we’re now seeing: CI failures.)
3) Several people explained in achingly clear terms how much time was wasted on learning how to pronounce stupidly simple words. That poor little girl couldn’t even finish writing that simple word on the blackboard .. her lip-flapping teacher had to finish it for her. Content knowledge or lip-flapping, take your pick. The documentary really makes the choice obvious.
4) Alexander Graham Bell is generally hailed as an hero among hearing people – because few know of his oppressive views of deaf people. Really, if you think about it, he is not that far removed from Hitler. He too believed in eradicating the “inferior” peoples in order to make a “better” human race. This documentary did a great job of exposing AGB for the oppressor that he was.
5) If this documentary focused entirely on fluent ASL signers and deaf culture, what would hearing people do? They’d watch and compare the lives of those people to themselves. And say, “Well, that’s nice that they have all those nifty customs. But why can’t they be more like us?”
Fortunately for us, this documentary included plenty of examples of deaf people who DO try to be more like hearing people. So now the hearing people can look at those examples and say, “Wow, so that’s what happens when they try to be more like us? Well, now I can see why deaf people might prefer not to do that.”
I loved this documentary. What an incredible job of showing why we are the way we are today. One central theme that really leaped out at me was that throughout history, when the world shut them out, deaf people worked to create their own world. Eyeth vs. Earth. Wow. Makes me proud to be deaf.
So the next time someone accuses me or my people of being separatist or isolationist (a la the recent Gallaudet protests), I’m going to remember OUR history and the fact that we have built our own world precisely because the OTHER world has consistently refused to let us in. And I will demand respect for this fact.
Love the videos! We need more understanding of being deaf and communication between deaf and non-deaf people. 🙂
I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to view this. Life has been slightly hectic here lately (getting ready to go back home to the Bogs for a month). I’m going to try to visit the PBS website this weekend so I can at least view some clips of it.
Glad to see more hearing peoples’ responses… we need to develope an understanding between two worlds, hearing and deaf (same idea as between white and black worlds.)
Whitishrabbit, My son, who is profoundly deaf, took the stage last night in his mainstream school and sang a song from High School Muscial, following karoke screen. People understood him and sang along with him (mostly his classmates.) So there are some deaf people who can hear and understand the music, like hearing people. Like Miskanza said, the show captured only a mircoscopic view of the deaf people… it did not show the whole deaf population, the majority that does not know ASL.
Nice show… but not GREAT show, because I already know the topics covered in the show.
I found “Through Deaf Eyes” to be a great program!
Loved the Planet ‘Eye’th vs. Planet ‘Ear’th concept… that is what the world is to profoundly Deaf people. Loved the video-clips too, talented Deaf filmmakers!!
As for the Deaf people who were interviewed, I have either met or read the books written by: Patrick Graybill, Robert Panara, Carol Padden, Tom Humphries, Ben Bahan, and Marlee Matlin. To take in their perspectives was quite enlightening.
I hope that many Hearing people take in the program as it is a great jumping-off point for Deaf studies. As an RID certified Interpreter, I think the program is filled with great information about how it was for the Deaf people and how it has changed over the years.
In response to Erick Ketcham who, I’m certain, will disregard any opinion I express, because I am not Deaf myself, and do not fit into his very narrow vision of the Deaf experience: I am an interpreter (NAD IV certified), have taken Deaf studies classes, have worked with Deaf people on a daily basis for over 13 years and have been married to my Deaf husband for 15 years.
I know that just like every hearing person, each Deaf person has his/her own experience in growing up. The Deaf experience will undoubtably include which direction he/she will follow regarding language aquisition: oral or manual. Because a deaf person chooses, or had chosen for them by their parents, the oral method, does not make them any less deaf (hearing loss), only less Deaf (culturally Deaf). Their experiences are their own and not to be slighted because they do not measure up to the standards of those who feel the need to judge others from the single comparision to his/her own life experience. They are real people with a story to tell and their story is worth knowing because of their hearing loss. They must be represented so that future generations will know and better understand the options. It was clear from this production that for some people the oral method was successful; they were happy. The oral method has and will always be a part of the Deaf/deaf experience. My husband was forced to learn to speak; he was not happy or fulfilled though, until he learned his beloved sign language; only then did he begin to live. I understand how important and cherished ASL is to a Deaf person. If I had to choose for myself, I would choose the manual method, but that will not change the fact that the oral method has always been a part of deaf history, and will continue to be a part of deaf history.
A Deaf person who is not as educated as another Deaf person may not represent the more educated person, but they do indeed represent other Deaf people who have similiar experiences.
Deaf people who use “pure” ASL are no more Deaf than the person who uses PSE; in fact, the PSE form of sign language is more widely used than “pure” ASL. If a person is understood, they are communicating; that is what language is all about. Let’s not get prudish about the “purity” of any language.
I thought “Through Deaf Eyes” was the best production about deaf history I have ever seen. Many people, hearing and Deaf, are talking about it and discussing the Deaf experience. That in itself makes the production a great success, because through discussion comes greater understanding.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Be blessed -Danna
Danna,
On the contrary, I am not disregarding your opinion. I may express mine strongly, and I may have strong opinions. But, I do listen to others’ opinions even though I may not agree with them. Please don’t assume. :o)
What hearing people and some deaf people do not understand… Is oralism itself is a byproduct of audism. The only reason why hearing people want deaf people to speak is because they do not accept them as Deaf people and leave them alone.
Hearing people (as well as some brainwashed deaf people) have a preset perception of what is “normal”. If a person does not speak, then that person must be dumb. That is the way society view people that do not speak or does not speak “properly”.
So what did they do to “fix the problem”? They established oral schools… Pushed speech therapy on Deaf people…
Many Deaf children didn’t want speech therapy. (I was one of them, and so was my wife) Yet, they are being forced to take speech therapy and is graded on it.
A Deaf friend once told me that during a conversation with her father, she said “freckles”… But he thought she said “Fuckles”… So, he beat her with a belt.
Someone else, I can’t remember who, recently made a VLOG about a story of her childhood where she tried to learn how to speak “Czechlosvakia”. She practiced for a full week on that one word alone… Went home and asked her mom to guess the word she said the word “Czechlosvankia” and her mom slapped her across the face.
The price of speech therapy, huh?
As long as deaf people continue to allow speech therapy to be a part of a school coursework, be graded, etc… It will imply that speaking is a must, is educational, and determines whether if that person is smart or dumb….
As long as it’s a part of the education system… When really, speech pathology and audiology are medical… And belong in hospitals or clinics… Not schools… People in society will continue to hold on to the belief that speech is important.
You said that oralism is a part of Deaf history. You’re right. Unfortunately. But Jewish people working for the Judenrat is a part of Jewish history. Do they still live, breathe, or deal with the Judenrat? Slavery is a part of African American history, do they still slave for white masters? No. Why should we be a slave to hearing people?
PSE, SSE, etc, are NOT languages. They are COMMUNICATION tools. There is a big difference. Whereas, ASL, on the other hand is an actual language invented by Deaf people and used by Deaf people. (Yeah yeah, you’re going to bring up Thomas Gallaudet. I say he was just a vessel in bringing Laurent Clerc to the USA. If the oral school in England had allowed Gallaudet to learn their methods for free, USA would be mostly oral today. I credit Alice Cogswell and her band of Deaf friends as well as Clerc for bringing ASL in America. Hearing people tend to credit Gallaudet.)
Anyway. PSE, SEE, etc, is just an audist tool to divert Deaf people from their culture and to say that ASL is worthless. If you use PSE or any other communication tool, you are saying that ASL is worthless and beneath you. That in itself is an act of audism.
It isn’t standards that I invented myself. It’s a fact. Many Deaf people feel this way, but they don’t voice them.
Again, I respect your opinion. But remember, you are an interpreter, and hearing. While you had 13 years, I had 29. Not only that, my wife is 100% deaf and had 41 years of being Deaf, and we produced a Deaf child and are parents of a Deaf child.
Whereas, it’s a job for you. Take that in consideration. I’m not saying that I disregard what you are saying. Just pointing out the facts.
You’re right, a deaf person’s upbringing will usually determine how they will be later in life. But not always. I’m a prime example of that. I grew up mostly oral, signed in Signed Exact English, and not very well at that. I didn’t learn ASL until I was 16. Yet, I picked ASL up in just 3 months and I’ve been told that I sign as well as an older Deaf person. A lot of people believed that I had Deaf parents because of the quality of my ASL.
It is the JOURNEY that counts. The Deaf person has a responsibility to do their homework and research on the internet. They have a responsibility to seek others like themselves if they really want to understand it. If they don’t do that, they won’t be enlightened.
The reason why I say that a deaf person that doesn’t sign in ASL does not deserve to be called “deaf” is simply this:
Those that participate in so-called “political Correctedness” and calls themselves “Hearing Impaired”… They are right. They are hearing impaired, because to them, it’s a medical condition. Their ears don’t work, therefore they are “severely disabled”. (In their perspective.
While on the other hand, those that are “deaf” take pride in saying “I’m as deaf as a doornail, and that’s end of that.” “My language is ASL, and that’s the end of that”.
Therefore, when a hearing impaired person says that they are ‘deaf’, that is insulting. It is like saying that they are a part of a culture that they are not a part of. They view themselves as medically disabled. Let them label themselves the right way: hearing impaired.
Those hearing impaired people don’t need to associate themselves with culturally deaf people if they aren’t going to accept themselves or take the time to learn about others in their position.
Somehow, I have a feeling that it doesn’t matter what I’m trying to say. That’s okay. I’m used to it. This world is full of idiots anyway. Who am I to say that can be changed? Sorry I want to be optimistic about improving things for Deaf people. And I’m sorry that you feel that it’s the wrong thing to do.
But, I get ya. It’s hard to respect an audist, though, you know? If I don’t respect people in the KKK, I can’t respect an audist.
Regards,
Erick Ketcham
By the way, culturally friendly Deaf people will enjoy this video, I think.
Erick
While I respect Mr. Ketcham’s right to express his opinions here, I do wish to make it known that Deaf Pagan Crossroads does not necessarily endorse the comments which are posted on this site.
The Deaf Community is a diverse one… made up of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Those backgrounds and experiences have a major impact on the choices that one makes about how to live the Deaf Experience – communication modes, education, identity, philosophies, etc.
Mr. Ketcham does make some valid points – points based upon his own journey. Others here have made equally valid points.
The bottom line is this – we may not always agree on the issues… but we can agree that the Deaf Experience has had, continues to have, and will always have a major impact on our lives.
I agree, it’s good to have a dialog on these issues. We, as a group really need to get it all together if we want to advance as a group.
And I also agree that many others here made valid points.
Best Regards,
Erick
Man o man! I never knew there were so many “details” and “nuances” to being deaf vs. Deaf.
The Ketcham guy has some valid points but I think it’s his delivery that is lacking. Bit rude and condescending it seems to me. I’m not deaf or unable to speak..nor do I know any type of sign language, but this series of comments makes me want to watch that video/program/documentary, whatever it was.
Yes I know this post/blog is ooooolllddddd! But I’ll see if I can find it. Intersting stuff people!