"Through Deaf Eyes" is a two-hour PBS documentary that details approximately 200 years of Deaf culture in America. In this expose, Deaf individuals give their first-person accounts of how deafness has affected each of them. Six documentaries, produced by Deaf artists and filmmakers, are also featured during the film. My favorite part of viewing Through Deaf Eyes was getting to see so many native signers using American Sign Language. I am now at the half-way mark in the Deaf Studies and Interpreting program, which I am taking to fulfill a foreign language requirement, and watching and interacting with Deaf individuals is the best thing for me at this point in time. It was encouraging to pick up on so many signs that the individuals portrayed in the film used. I took my midterm after watching this film, and I actually think it helped me!
I have to say, also, that this documentary helped me reevaluate my opinions. For a while now, or as long as I've been studying DSI, I've ridden the fence when it comes to the oralism/cochlear implant debate. I've always had an appreciation for those individuals who chose to learn to communicate with the hearing world. It must take great strength and patience to do so. Those who chose to learn oral methods may also be asked to avoid the use of sign language, and that's a huge investment. After seeing the first-hand accounts this film offered, I am much more inclined to express my opposition to oralism. For the Deaf, the ability to use sign language will always prevail in the battle to achieve clear communication. It's a no-brainer. Why would we want to deter people from using sign language if it really, truly will help them communicate? Whether a Deaf individual chooses to lipread or speak or obtain a cochlear implant, sign language is a necessary tool. In the film, Kristen Harmon explained why she chooses not to use her voice. “They assume that I can hear them. And that’s the problem with speaking,” she said. “It’s a two-way communication. That’s why I don’t. I don’t want people to assume that I can hear them because I can’t. It’s much easier just to turn off my voice.” She spoke about how hard she had been working, going to school as an oralist. Eventually, she realized sign language was her language, and that it was easier and more satisfying to stick to what came natural.
I really enjoyed the comedic elements of the film. I suppose, however, these same elements may not have been so comedic for Deaf people in the past. I liked the scene with Robert Panara, who explained how his father tried everything from airplane rides to taking him to meet Babe Ruth to “shock” his hearing back into him. Next, Jack Gannon talks about how his aunt took him to a revival to cure his deafness. Of course, the religious healing didn't work, either; they said he didn't have enough faith to be cured. It amazes me that people could be so ignorant that they thought these things might help. Then again, people today are still confused about what causes deafness and how to cope with and/or cure it. I mean, we're offering cochlear implants to people when there's only a 50/50 chance the highly expensive procedure will even work. It angers me that after 200 years, we haven't found a better solution. Or if there's no solution to be found, that we haven't learned to accept deafness as a very manageable condition. We should be beyond bickering about whether ASL is a language or not, and hearing people should be better educated in Deaf Culture. While I know progress has been made in the past 200 years, there is no excuse for the injustices that continue against the Deaf still today.
Marlie Matlin's contribution to the documentary was nice, because I've always liked her (If you haven't seen What the Bleep Do We Know? you should be ashamed of yourself!). I wasn't aware of the situation she encountered the year after she won the Oscar. She attended the ceremony and was presenting the nominees for Best Actor when she chose to speak the list of names rather than signing them. Deaf people everywhere were outraged! And now I'm outraged! Yes, she was a “pioneer” for the Deaf, like Mark Morales noted in the film, but why did that all go out the window the second she chose to use her voice? This woman worked hard to get to where she did, and she should have the opportunity to communicate with others however she chooses. That's what we all need to remember: Deafness is a very personal condition, and no one but that individual has the right to decide what is best for him or her. Whether a Deaf individual chooses to use sign language only, or to obtain a cochlear implant and utilize oral methods, or to use a combination of both, it is their choice, plain and simple.
Showing posts with label dsi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dsi. Show all posts
Saturday, March 7, 2009
"Sound and Fury" Movie Review
Deaf people face the inability to communicate with the world on a daily basis. Technology has allowed for many tools to make common interaction less difficult for these individuals. But, still, a communication barrier exists. Now, there is technology available which lends the possibility of making a deaf person capable of hearing. No matter how promising this device sounds, deaf people and the families of deaf children face many challenges in deciding if an implant is right for them. With this new hope of hearing comes the fear of failure and the possibility of being cast out of and judged by the Deaf community. Embracing this new technology isn't simple when an individual must fear losing their cultural identity and the support of others like them.
Sound and Fury is a Public Broadcasting Service documentary that follows two families on their quest for knowledge regarding cochlear implants. Heather Artinian, an intelligent and vibrant 6-year-old, asks her parents Peter and Nina for a cochlear implant. A deaf child, she wants to be able to communicate with the hearing world. Her frustrations trying to speak to her hearing friends, along with the desire to hear noises like a baby crying and cars crashing, provoke her to ask her parents about this technology. By the end of the film, Peter and Nina, who are both deaf as well, decide that a cochlear implant is not the best idea for their daughter. Instead, they relocate to Frederick, Maryland, a town with a high population of deaf people, where they feel they and their daughter will fit in and feel more comfortable.
The film also follows Peter's brother's family as they decide if a cochlear implant is a good decision for their 1 1/2-year-old son, also named Peter. Chris and Mari Artinian, both hearing, were devastated when they found out one of their twin boys was deaf. Now, it is their primary goal to give their son the best opportunity available to be a part of both the Deaf and hearing world. They decide that now is the time to give Peter the implant, before his language skills begin developing. At the film's end, Peter undergoes surgery to obtain the implant, and we see him at his first pathology appointment. The baby responds to sounds, and we see that the implant was a success.
Extended family plays a major role in this situation. This is a deaf family, with many deaf family members. Nancy and Michael Mancini, Mari's parents, are both deaf and are very opposed to Peter's cochlear implant. Nancy expresses her fear that Peter will only grow up hearing, that he won't be able to communicate with her, and that he'll lose his cultural identity.
The elder Peter's parents, Marianne and Peter Artinian, have a very different view regarding cochlear implants. However, they are both hearing. Marianne says that the cochlear implant is the “greatest miracle in medical science,” and that “we are on the brink of a revolution for those who cannot hear.” They tried their best to encourage Peter and Nina to let Heather have an implant. However, because Peter insists that his hearing mother couldn't possibly know what a deaf person goes through, he failed to take her advice.
Both sides of the coin have many valid points. I understand how the Deaf community can be harsh, turning on its members who chose cochlear implants to be a part of the hearing world. Many times, when cochlear implants are given to a child, the child's only option is to attend a school where oralism is encouraged. This definitely does detract from the deaf cultural norm of using sign language as a primary form of communication. It would be terribly difficult to no longer belong to the Deaf community, but to still not be entirely accepted in the hearing world, either. In the film, there is a scene when Mari tells people at a Deaf picnic of her choice to implant her son. They are outraged, telling her he'll never be accepted by their community. In that very scene, her own mother calls her a “lousy daughter” based on her decision to let her son hear. But the good must be taken with the bad. Someone who makes a decision to embrace the cochlear implant is also making the decision to face adversity from their own peers. Not to mention the risk factors involved with the surgery and the possibility that there is no residual hearing left to stimulate.
On the flip side, I think Marianne has a point. Technology isn't going anywhere. As long as there is this phenomenal advancement available that poses the possibility of hearing for a deaf person, people will embrace cochlear implants. Nancy says that deaf people with implants are no better than robots, but I've seen robots do some pretty cool things. That's not necessarily all that bad, in my book. I understand the operation is risky, at best, but I think it's a nice option for families dealing with deafness and finding it difficult to fit into the Deaf world. I was impressed that such a bright, young girl would ask her parents for a cochlear implant. Although I understand their reasons, I was a little discouraged that Peter and Nina simply decided against it. And instead of finding other ways for Heather to communicate with the hearing world, they pulled her out of it and moved her to a community where she'd be immersed in Deaf culture. I'm not sure it was the best move for her, but it seemed to be the best move for them. Yes, now she'll fit in more. She'll communicate more easily with her friends, because, they, too, are deaf and sign. However, her parents have closed the door on the hearing world, and she won't be a part of it until she's old enough to do so on her own. At one point, Peter even said he didn't care about the hearing world, to forget about them. This is a very closed-minded notion when he has a daughter who wants to be a part of everything.
This is what I fear the most. I long to see a world where the hearing and the Deaf can interact freely. I'm one small voice fighting for Deaf rights. There are many like me, I know. But our work is for naught if the Deaf community keeps closing the door on us. It seems as thought they want to be outcasts, but they also like to complain about it. I know this is not typical of all deaf people, but this film definitely conveyed the prejudices toward the hearing world that are felt by many in the Deaf community. I can only hope that technology continues to advance, and that someday, cochlear implants will be a safe and reliable option for those who choose to utilize it. But, I definitely appreciate the choice to steer clear of them and to embrace one's own very special Deaf identity as well.
Sound and Fury is a Public Broadcasting Service documentary that follows two families on their quest for knowledge regarding cochlear implants. Heather Artinian, an intelligent and vibrant 6-year-old, asks her parents Peter and Nina for a cochlear implant. A deaf child, she wants to be able to communicate with the hearing world. Her frustrations trying to speak to her hearing friends, along with the desire to hear noises like a baby crying and cars crashing, provoke her to ask her parents about this technology. By the end of the film, Peter and Nina, who are both deaf as well, decide that a cochlear implant is not the best idea for their daughter. Instead, they relocate to Frederick, Maryland, a town with a high population of deaf people, where they feel they and their daughter will fit in and feel more comfortable.
The film also follows Peter's brother's family as they decide if a cochlear implant is a good decision for their 1 1/2-year-old son, also named Peter. Chris and Mari Artinian, both hearing, were devastated when they found out one of their twin boys was deaf. Now, it is their primary goal to give their son the best opportunity available to be a part of both the Deaf and hearing world. They decide that now is the time to give Peter the implant, before his language skills begin developing. At the film's end, Peter undergoes surgery to obtain the implant, and we see him at his first pathology appointment. The baby responds to sounds, and we see that the implant was a success.
Extended family plays a major role in this situation. This is a deaf family, with many deaf family members. Nancy and Michael Mancini, Mari's parents, are both deaf and are very opposed to Peter's cochlear implant. Nancy expresses her fear that Peter will only grow up hearing, that he won't be able to communicate with her, and that he'll lose his cultural identity.
The elder Peter's parents, Marianne and Peter Artinian, have a very different view regarding cochlear implants. However, they are both hearing. Marianne says that the cochlear implant is the “greatest miracle in medical science,” and that “we are on the brink of a revolution for those who cannot hear.” They tried their best to encourage Peter and Nina to let Heather have an implant. However, because Peter insists that his hearing mother couldn't possibly know what a deaf person goes through, he failed to take her advice.
Both sides of the coin have many valid points. I understand how the Deaf community can be harsh, turning on its members who chose cochlear implants to be a part of the hearing world. Many times, when cochlear implants are given to a child, the child's only option is to attend a school where oralism is encouraged. This definitely does detract from the deaf cultural norm of using sign language as a primary form of communication. It would be terribly difficult to no longer belong to the Deaf community, but to still not be entirely accepted in the hearing world, either. In the film, there is a scene when Mari tells people at a Deaf picnic of her choice to implant her son. They are outraged, telling her he'll never be accepted by their community. In that very scene, her own mother calls her a “lousy daughter” based on her decision to let her son hear. But the good must be taken with the bad. Someone who makes a decision to embrace the cochlear implant is also making the decision to face adversity from their own peers. Not to mention the risk factors involved with the surgery and the possibility that there is no residual hearing left to stimulate.
On the flip side, I think Marianne has a point. Technology isn't going anywhere. As long as there is this phenomenal advancement available that poses the possibility of hearing for a deaf person, people will embrace cochlear implants. Nancy says that deaf people with implants are no better than robots, but I've seen robots do some pretty cool things. That's not necessarily all that bad, in my book. I understand the operation is risky, at best, but I think it's a nice option for families dealing with deafness and finding it difficult to fit into the Deaf world. I was impressed that such a bright, young girl would ask her parents for a cochlear implant. Although I understand their reasons, I was a little discouraged that Peter and Nina simply decided against it. And instead of finding other ways for Heather to communicate with the hearing world, they pulled her out of it and moved her to a community where she'd be immersed in Deaf culture. I'm not sure it was the best move for her, but it seemed to be the best move for them. Yes, now she'll fit in more. She'll communicate more easily with her friends, because, they, too, are deaf and sign. However, her parents have closed the door on the hearing world, and she won't be a part of it until she's old enough to do so on her own. At one point, Peter even said he didn't care about the hearing world, to forget about them. This is a very closed-minded notion when he has a daughter who wants to be a part of everything.
This is what I fear the most. I long to see a world where the hearing and the Deaf can interact freely. I'm one small voice fighting for Deaf rights. There are many like me, I know. But our work is for naught if the Deaf community keeps closing the door on us. It seems as thought they want to be outcasts, but they also like to complain about it. I know this is not typical of all deaf people, but this film definitely conveyed the prejudices toward the hearing world that are felt by many in the Deaf community. I can only hope that technology continues to advance, and that someday, cochlear implants will be a safe and reliable option for those who choose to utilize it. But, I definitely appreciate the choice to steer clear of them and to embrace one's own very special Deaf identity as well.
"And Your Name Is Jonah" Movie Review
This week in Deaf Studies and Interpreting 111, my view of Deaf culture and the struggles deaf people encounter was widened. My classmates and I watched the 1979 CBS television movie "And Your Name is Jonah." This film was a delight, and very enlightening. It takes its viewer on an emotional roller coaster, portraying the hardships a deaf person encounters as well as the happiness that is felt upon one's accomplishments. It introduced me to many biases, opinions, and practices related to the Deaf community that I was previously unaware of. As the film began, I felt very bad for deaf persons, noticing how hard it must be just to live in a “hearing” world. By the end of the movie, however, I realized how rewarding it must be to live in such a tight-knit community where personal communication comes before anything else.
And My Name is Jonah is a story about a young boy who was misdiagnosed as retarded and institutionalized for three years. The film begins with his mother and father, both completely ignorant regarding Deaf culture, picking him up from the hospital to take him home. He is greeted at home with a surprise party thrown by his entire family. The poor child has no idea what is going on. It's just the beginning of a very confusing and strange environment for Jonah. As the film proceeds, Jonah's father leaves the family because he can't handle the pressure. He calls Jonah a “freak,” and is more concerned by what the public will think of Jonah than with actually seeking out assistance for his son. Once his father leaves, his mother is free to explore new opportunities for Jonah. She eventually decides to let Jonah learn Sign Language, a move that allows the boy to communicate with others in his life. At last, he begins to learn about the world around him.
The movie revealed many biases held by people in the Deaf community. Mrs. Marquardt, the director of Jonah's school, said, “Unfortunately, it's a hearing world ... Unfortunately for the deaf.” The only unfortunate thing about this statement is the statement itself. It really struck a chord with me. Nothing about the world has to be unfortunate for a deaf person, as long as they have caring and understanding people in their lives. This was Jonah's biggest road block. His father wanted him to disappear. He would rather send Jonah back to the hospital than deal with his condition. His mother, while seemingly caring and compassionate, didn't exhibit the willingness to understand Jonah's attempts at communication. I was really saddened by the scene where Jonah tries to tell his mother he wants a hot dog. He was pulling on her coat, desperately trying to show her what he wanted. Instead of letting him lead the way, she kept on screaming, “Jonah, I don't know what you want! I don't understand!” If she would have only gotten up quicker and let Jonah lead her to the hot dog cart, she could have bridged the communication gap. I think many times it's not the inability to understand a deaf person, it's the lack of a desire to communicate with them.
I think Jonah's father leaving was the best thing that could've happened. Once he was out of the picture, his mother was free to look outside of the box for alternatives to helping Jonah with his condition. She was more empowered to help her son because his father had been so demeaning of him, and she found new determination to live a “normal” life, or as normal as possible with a deaf child. When she saw the deaf couple and their child at speech therapy, she realized that her family could be just as happy, and that there were other ways to teach Jonah to communicate. I really liked the scene where the ladies visit the library. My husband and I both work in libraries, so I'm all about “knowledge is power.” When Jonah's mother saw the two books with opposing viewpoints side by side, she realized that there were other options to explore.
I'm glad to know that society has begun to accept Sign Language as universal and necessary. I couldn't believe the attitude of the school instructors who insisted on lip reading and speaking as opposed to a communication device as uncomplicated as signing. Especially for people like Jonah, who had no English correlate to learn from, Sign Language is a perfect visual tool to use to communicate. At the end of the movie, when the man began teaching Jonah signs, it was like putting puzzle pieces into place. Things made sense. While Jonah didn't have a word for “tree,” he now had a sign that actually visually looked like a tree. What's so difficult about that? Mrs. Marquardt said children shouldn't be taught Sign Language because they'll only be able to communicate with other deaf people. However, when Jonah tried to learn the methods taught by her school, he was unable to comprehend. It was refreshing, once he began learning to sign, to be able to communicate with anyone, not particularly deaf or speaking people.
As I said before, it must be rewarding to be a part of a community that regards personal communication above all else. In today's day in age, we rely on so many other forms of communication – television, Internet, print media and radio. It's nice to get back to the basics and to have to look someone in the eye to listen to them. Not to say that I don't treasure my hearing, but I am a tad bit jealous of the Deaf. They are immersed in such an intimate community, while today's general society is so detached and individuals are so independent. It can be quite depressing to value your personal space more than the act of sharing it with other people.
My favorite part of the movie was when Jonah's mother and her friend go to the Deaf club meeting. Most people have some sort of unfounded fear of deaf people. It was amazing to see how personable, how animated, how interesting these people are. I'm very eager to attend cultural events now that I've had a taste of what they might be like. I now understand that I don't need to be afraid of failing in the communication process. Most deaf people will be happy that I'm attempting to communicate with them in the first place. I'm sure that much patience will be allowed while I'm learning to sign proficiently. I truly can't wait to try to have a conversation with someone who is culturally Deaf, and I'm even more excited to learn more about American Sign Language.
And My Name is Jonah is a story about a young boy who was misdiagnosed as retarded and institutionalized for three years. The film begins with his mother and father, both completely ignorant regarding Deaf culture, picking him up from the hospital to take him home. He is greeted at home with a surprise party thrown by his entire family. The poor child has no idea what is going on. It's just the beginning of a very confusing and strange environment for Jonah. As the film proceeds, Jonah's father leaves the family because he can't handle the pressure. He calls Jonah a “freak,” and is more concerned by what the public will think of Jonah than with actually seeking out assistance for his son. Once his father leaves, his mother is free to explore new opportunities for Jonah. She eventually decides to let Jonah learn Sign Language, a move that allows the boy to communicate with others in his life. At last, he begins to learn about the world around him.
The movie revealed many biases held by people in the Deaf community. Mrs. Marquardt, the director of Jonah's school, said, “Unfortunately, it's a hearing world ... Unfortunately for the deaf.” The only unfortunate thing about this statement is the statement itself. It really struck a chord with me. Nothing about the world has to be unfortunate for a deaf person, as long as they have caring and understanding people in their lives. This was Jonah's biggest road block. His father wanted him to disappear. He would rather send Jonah back to the hospital than deal with his condition. His mother, while seemingly caring and compassionate, didn't exhibit the willingness to understand Jonah's attempts at communication. I was really saddened by the scene where Jonah tries to tell his mother he wants a hot dog. He was pulling on her coat, desperately trying to show her what he wanted. Instead of letting him lead the way, she kept on screaming, “Jonah, I don't know what you want! I don't understand!” If she would have only gotten up quicker and let Jonah lead her to the hot dog cart, she could have bridged the communication gap. I think many times it's not the inability to understand a deaf person, it's the lack of a desire to communicate with them.
I think Jonah's father leaving was the best thing that could've happened. Once he was out of the picture, his mother was free to look outside of the box for alternatives to helping Jonah with his condition. She was more empowered to help her son because his father had been so demeaning of him, and she found new determination to live a “normal” life, or as normal as possible with a deaf child. When she saw the deaf couple and their child at speech therapy, she realized that her family could be just as happy, and that there were other ways to teach Jonah to communicate. I really liked the scene where the ladies visit the library. My husband and I both work in libraries, so I'm all about “knowledge is power.” When Jonah's mother saw the two books with opposing viewpoints side by side, she realized that there were other options to explore.
I'm glad to know that society has begun to accept Sign Language as universal and necessary. I couldn't believe the attitude of the school instructors who insisted on lip reading and speaking as opposed to a communication device as uncomplicated as signing. Especially for people like Jonah, who had no English correlate to learn from, Sign Language is a perfect visual tool to use to communicate. At the end of the movie, when the man began teaching Jonah signs, it was like putting puzzle pieces into place. Things made sense. While Jonah didn't have a word for “tree,” he now had a sign that actually visually looked like a tree. What's so difficult about that? Mrs. Marquardt said children shouldn't be taught Sign Language because they'll only be able to communicate with other deaf people. However, when Jonah tried to learn the methods taught by her school, he was unable to comprehend. It was refreshing, once he began learning to sign, to be able to communicate with anyone, not particularly deaf or speaking people.
As I said before, it must be rewarding to be a part of a community that regards personal communication above all else. In today's day in age, we rely on so many other forms of communication – television, Internet, print media and radio. It's nice to get back to the basics and to have to look someone in the eye to listen to them. Not to say that I don't treasure my hearing, but I am a tad bit jealous of the Deaf. They are immersed in such an intimate community, while today's general society is so detached and individuals are so independent. It can be quite depressing to value your personal space more than the act of sharing it with other people.
My favorite part of the movie was when Jonah's mother and her friend go to the Deaf club meeting. Most people have some sort of unfounded fear of deaf people. It was amazing to see how personable, how animated, how interesting these people are. I'm very eager to attend cultural events now that I've had a taste of what they might be like. I now understand that I don't need to be afraid of failing in the communication process. Most deaf people will be happy that I'm attempting to communicate with them in the first place. I'm sure that much patience will be allowed while I'm learning to sign proficiently. I truly can't wait to try to have a conversation with someone who is culturally Deaf, and I'm even more excited to learn more about American Sign Language.
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