Deaf Culture & Libraries
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“Mastery of ASL and skillful
storytelling are highly valued in Deaf Culture. Through ASL Literature,
one generation passes on to the next its wisdom, values, and its pride
and thus reinforces the bonds that unite the younger generation.”
-aslinfo.com22
-aslinfo.com22
Deaf Arts
Deaf Culture has a strong and proud tradition of Deaf Arts, which may be an interesting area to consider for developing a library collection or planning library events. Deaf Arts includes, but is certainly not limited to, the following:
ASL literature & Deaf Literature
ASL literature is not simply the translation of English literature into ASL, but consists of original compositions created in ASL reflecting the experience of culturally Deaf people.23 ASL literature may consist of ASL poetry, storytelling, folktales, or other forms. ASL Poetry seems particularly popular, but to publish a “book” of ASL Poetry requires a video camera 24, and so this may be one of the reasons there are no published records of Deaf Poetry before the 1970s25. Traditionally, ASL Poetry was shared at live at community events and venues, but as access to video equipment and the Internet increases, so does the ability to share poems. Slope Journal recently published a special edition of all video poetry on-line, featuring well-known ASL poets and winners of a recent contest.
Deaf literature includes a wider variety of material and my be written or signed original literature created by d/Deaf individuals (slope). There is a growing body of written literature by d/Deaf people (see Deaf Literature Sampler: Anthologies collected by Librarians at RIT).
Deaf Theatre
The National Theatre for the Deaf uses both ASL and spoken language to create highly visual theatre. After 39 years, it is the US's oldest continually touring theatre company and continues to provide entertainment that goes beyond making cultural events accessible to Deaf communities. Their work enables Deaf people "to share with the hearing members of the audience a cultural and social even," which in turn "promotes pride in the culture and artistry of the Deaf".26
Deaf Dance
The Gallaudet Dance Company, in existence for over 50 years, is one of the most famous Deaf dance companies. The dancers, all students at Gallaudet University, incorporate many different styles including dance that communicates through ASL.27 Common Ground Dance Sign Theatre, a company run by Deaf artists but including both Deaf and hearing performers, focuses more specifically on a combination of sign and movement .28
Performance
Performance is a valued tradition in Deaf Culture and may consist of anything from storytelling to Deaf comedians, Deaf cinema or even Deaf Elvis.
Deaf Culture has a strong and proud tradition of Deaf Arts, which may be an interesting area to consider for developing a library collection or planning library events. Deaf Arts includes, but is certainly not limited to, the following:
ASL literature & Deaf Literature
ASL literature is not simply the translation of English literature into ASL, but consists of original compositions created in ASL reflecting the experience of culturally Deaf people.23 ASL literature may consist of ASL poetry, storytelling, folktales, or other forms. ASL Poetry seems particularly popular, but to publish a “book” of ASL Poetry requires a video camera 24, and so this may be one of the reasons there are no published records of Deaf Poetry before the 1970s25. Traditionally, ASL Poetry was shared at live at community events and venues, but as access to video equipment and the Internet increases, so does the ability to share poems. Slope Journal recently published a special edition of all video poetry on-line, featuring well-known ASL poets and winners of a recent contest.
Deaf literature includes a wider variety of material and my be written or signed original literature created by d/Deaf individuals (slope). There is a growing body of written literature by d/Deaf people (see Deaf Literature Sampler: Anthologies collected by Librarians at RIT).
Deaf Theatre
The National Theatre for the Deaf uses both ASL and spoken language to create highly visual theatre. After 39 years, it is the US's oldest continually touring theatre company and continues to provide entertainment that goes beyond making cultural events accessible to Deaf communities. Their work enables Deaf people "to share with the hearing members of the audience a cultural and social even," which in turn "promotes pride in the culture and artistry of the Deaf".26
Deaf Dance
The Gallaudet Dance Company, in existence for over 50 years, is one of the most famous Deaf dance companies. The dancers, all students at Gallaudet University, incorporate many different styles including dance that communicates through ASL.27 Common Ground Dance Sign Theatre, a company run by Deaf artists but including both Deaf and hearing performers, focuses more specifically on a combination of sign and movement .28
Performance
Performance is a valued tradition in Deaf Culture and may consist of anything from storytelling to Deaf comedians, Deaf cinema or even Deaf Elvis.