The document provides summaries of 14 different works related to deaf literature and culture, including films, performances, videos, and books. The summaries are concise, typically 1-3 sentences, and highlight the essential information about each work such as main characters, plot points, themes, and connections to deaf culture or literature.

1. Teixeira 1
Kaylee Teixeira
Sandra Lygren
DST 151
11 May 2016
Annotated Bibliography
Deaf Jam. Dir. Judy Leiff. Perf. Aneta Brodski and Tahani Salah. CINEPHIL,2011. DVD.
Deaf Jam, a 2011 release directed and producedby Judy Lieff, documentsin 70 minutes
the enlightening discoveriesAneta, an ordinary girl from Queens, New York, finds as she
explores her outlet of expressionthroughAmerican Sign LanguagePoetry. She begins
collaborating(a staple genre in Deaf literature) with a hearing Palestinianpoet. The two
somehowmerge the hearing and deaf world into seamless cohesivepieces. They launch
the beginningsof a new trend, ASL in slam poetry. An ASL performance without voice
translationin the mix of all other hearing and auditory performanceconjures up
emotionsin the hearts of viewers asa highlightof the film. Deaf Jamwas awarded with a
U.S. broadcastpremiere on the Emmy® Award-winningPBSseries IndependentLens in
their 2011/2012season, TheJapanPrize– NHK Broadcasting, Tokyo, BestDocumentary –
The Greater Reading Film Festival, PA; Greenpoint Film Festival, NY Best of Festival – The
1stIrish Deaf Film Festival, Dublin, and Emerging FilmmakerAward – PhiladelphiaJewish
Film Festival. This movie documentary tiesup deaf literature up in a nice bowfor the
viewer’s enjoyment.
For A Deaf Son. Dir. Rob Tranchin. Perf. Thomas Tranchin. PBS,1994.YouTube. Dcmpnad, 28
Mar. 2013. Web. 6 May 2016.
“For A Deaf Son”a fifty-sevenminutePBS documentary orvideodiary is certainly a tear
jerker. This 1994 film follows the early life of Thomas“Tommy”Tranchinandhis family
after discoveringTommy is profoundly deaf. Faced with a whirlwind of emotions,
educationalpathways, political decisions, and surroundinginfluences, Tommy’sfamily
decides on a speech only oral method. Tommy goes throughyearsof life with no
language acquisitionor ability toexpress himself. It is heartbreakingto watch, but
Tommy was a prime example of language deprivation. Hadtommy beentaught
biliungual-biculturally, hewould havebeen exposed to children’sASL literature and
would havehad the opportunity togainliteracy.

2. Teixeira 2
Mitchell, Jamie. "The Little Mermaid: Wish Upon A Starfish | Season 1 Episode 20 Full Episode
WatchDisneyJunior.com." The Little Mermaid: Wish Upon A Starfish | Season 1 Episode
20 Full Episode - WatchDisneyJunior.com. Walt Disney Television Animation, Web. 07
May 2016
Ariel befriends a deaf mermaid namedGabriella. Ariel’s wish is todance, Gabriella’s is to
sing to be able express her feelings. Throughoutthetwenty-threeminuteadventure,
children are exposedto deaf in film, American SignLanguage, and communication
throughaninterpreter. When their wishes don’tcome to pass, the two girls realize they
hadtheir desires the entire time. Gabriella comes to realize she can sing a visualsong,
one with rhymeand rhythmin the richnessof her language, to express herself.
See No Evil, Hear No Evil. Dir Arthur Hillar. Perf. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor.
Tri Star Pictures, 1989. Dailymotion. Web. 6 May 2016.
“See No Evil, Hear No Evil”, Wally is blind, Dave is deaf. Whena man is murdered outside
the newsstandwhere they work the two become the mainsuspects. This 1989 comedy
release, wouldcertainly not qualify as a favorite for the Deaf Community. Themoviewas
producedby Tri Star Pictures anddirected by Arthur Hiller. Itstars Richard Pryorand
Gene Wilder (most commonly knownfor hisappearance as Willy Wonkain “Willy Wonka
andthe Chocolate Factory”). He is the deaf manin the film, butsubstantialreasonsprove
him to be an unauthenticrepresentationof Deafness. This is first evidenced by the fact
thatGene Wilder is a hearing actor; there is noshortageof Deaf actors. Also, when the
movie opens, inthe first scene Dave is in the middleof the street aboutto be hit by a car.
It is a typical stereotypeof a deaf personin dangeror need of help. Prior to 1990, Deaf
people viewed pathologically. They were labeled as ‘disabled’ ‘isolated’ ‘angry’ ‘helpless’
‘unableto functionin daily life’, or the polar oppositeas a “SuperDeafie”.
Dave, played by Richard Pryor(another hearing actor) is portraysthe “SuperDeafie” as a
superblip reader. As long as the personis facing him, he never has troubleunderstanding
what someoneis saying, never asksthem torepeat themselves. He only pretendshe
doesn’tunderstandwhenit suitshim or for comic relief of the film. Anotherproof of
Dave being an unauthenticdeaf representativeis his responsetoAudism. Momentsthat
shouldhavebeen taken seriously were laughed off in a comical manor.
Overall, throughtheDeaf lens, thismovie doesnot deserve the 6/10 starsrating it holds
on IMDB. Itdoes not accurately showcase the Deaf culture nordoes it display Deaf
identity. It was mockery in the name of laughter anda film in which I wouldnot
recommendin a positivelight.

3. Teixeira 3
Stevethevlogger’s channel. (2007, June 15). “Granville Redmond Part 1 of 2”. Online video clip.
Youtube. Youtube,15 June. 2007. Web. 29 April.2016
Stevethevlogger’s channel. (2007, June 15). “Granville Redmond Part 2 of 2”. Online video clip.
Youtube. Youtube,15 June. 2007. Web. 29 April.2016
Granville Raymond, a deaf actor, starred as the dance hall manager in the well-known production,
“A Dog’s Life”. Written, produced, and directed by the acclaimed Charlie Chaplin, this 1918 silent
film remains highly regarded. Both of these clips found on YouTube are about two minutes in
length.
In part one of two, Chaplin along with a dog he is holding on a leash attempts to enter societal life
in the dance hall (an unacceptable place to bring a dog according to mainstream society). He is
immediately rejected by Granville. The rejection from society can be related to deaf literature as
many deaf literary works contain themes of the oppression and exclusion of the Deaf.
Part two demonstrates a common genre in deaf literature, collaborative. Charlie, behind one man,
knocks him out by hitting him over the head with a glass bottle. He then “merges” their bodies
into one by becoming the man’s hands. Even though Charlie is not using language, but rather
“hand flapping”, the other man is comically giving reciprocal signs such as head nodding and hand
gestures as if he understands what Charlie is saying and as if a real conversation is taking place
visually rather than aurally.
The Preservation Of Sign Language. Perf. Dennis Cokely; Brian Malzkuhn; George William
Veditz; Edward Miner Gallaudet; Edward Allen Fay; John B Hotchkiss; George T
Dougherty; Robert P McGregor; Amos G Draper;. National Association of the Deaf,
1913.
Who determinesif a minority is a culture or not?The majority of course. Duringthe time
period thatthe Deaf were trying to prove itself a culture, they realized they desperately
needed to showcaseliterature. Amongsttheolder literature that they used was ‘The
Irishmanandthe Flea’ performed by Brian Malzkuhn. Thisstory was foundin the
Preservationof Sign Languagevideos filmed in 1913 (created because it was thoughtASL
was soonto be eradicated). Deaf literary authorsplaced in their time capsule of
preservationwhat was respected at that time in history. Hearing society dictatedwhat
literature was respected. Thus, it was generally white males (Dennis Cokely;Brian
Malzkuhn;GeorgeWilliam Veditz; Edward Miner Gallaudet; Edward Allen Fay;JohnB
Hotchkiss;George T Dougherty;RobertP McGregor; Amos G Draper) standingstiffly,
formally composingtheir piece with clean lines, little expression, and little dynamic.

4. Teixeira 4
One particular videosegment differs significantly from the others. “The Irishmanandthe
flea” was a visual depiction of oralism. It was acclaimed tobe successful, but when proof
was soughtout, the proofwas fleeting since oralism was a failed practice. Unlike the
other videos, the Irishmanandthe flea showcasesDeaf Lit by utilizing ASL storytelling
(the parameters of ASL- handshape, location, movement, palmorientation, andfacial
expressions/non-manualmarkers), climactic dynamics, gestures, facial andbody
expression, classifiers, androle shifting.
Spring Awakening. Dir. Michael Arden. New York, Manhattan. 9. Jan. 2016. Performance
The recent revival of the eight time Tony Award winning musical, Spring Awakening by
Deaf West, is saidto be one of the greatest revivalsof a musical todate. With a cast of
twenty-seven, MichaelArden directed a bilingual play of American Sign Languageand the
English spokenwordto bring the youthof 1890’sGermany back to life. Two of the main
characters are Deaf, with many other supportingcastmembersbeing Deaf as well.
Everyonein the play signs, hearing or not. Deaf West truly captured the essence of Deaf
theater, choosinga play that delves intothe deep problemsof society. The musical’s
theme focuses aroundpoorcommunication, sexualdesires, anddeprivationof sex
educationfrom the youth’selders androle models. Onecan make several connectionsto
deaf literature. Forinstance, takinginto accountthe Deaf communitieshistory of oralist
oppressionaswell as90% of deaf children are borninto hearingparents, failure of
communicationis a central theme to many literary works. Also, deaf writers had few
examples of written worksfrom deaf role models asmany before them hadhadan
inadequateeducation. Deaf writers whopaved the way were the “unfortunateones”.
The Taste of Sunrise. By Susuan Zeder. Wheelock Family Theater,Boston. 22 Mar. 2015.
Performance.
The Tasteof Sunrise was a bilingual play performed in American Sign Languageand
translatedinto English at the Wheelock Family Theatre. The story focused on a boy
namedTuc, who loses his hearing from the 1917 scarletfever epidemic. Through
strugglesin life, he eventually finds his pathto Deafhoodby discoveringthe beauty of
communication, life, andthe world of the Deaf. The cast was able to accurately portray
the diversity and richnessof the Deaf experience as many were Deaf themselves. The
proximity and size of the theater they performed in allowed for an intimatesetting,
commonin Deaf theater for audience participation andsigningprojection.
ERCODvideos. "ASL Storytelling - Snowy Day." YouTube. YouTube,11 Aug. 2015.

5. Teixeira 5
Web. 06 May 2016.
Snowy Day was producedby Educational ResourceCenter, written by Ezra Jack Keats,
directed by SoniaBridges, andtold by Lisa Cochran. Thischildren’s literary video was in
clear ASL form with many usesof classifiers and facial expressions. Althoughit was
voiced-over, onecould easily understandthestory with the volumemuted andthe
captionsblocked. The story was abouta small boy namedPeter and his fun adventures
duringan epic snowday which producedmoundsof snow. The videoended happily with
new snow falling the next morningafter his souvenirsnowballhadmelted in his pocket
duringthe previousnight’ssleep.
Sanborn, Ian. Caterpillar. YouTube, 30 Mar. 2014. Web. 7 May 2016
The deaf performer, IanSanborn, usesa variety of cinematic tools from the ASL language
toolboxsuch asclassifiers, Zoomin-and-out, androleshift in his story “Caterpillar”.
Immediately, onemay notice the purposefullack of facial expressionsuntil the end when
the caterpillar transitionsintoa butterfly. Itgives the video a certain suspensefulvibe
particularly since the video is in black andwhite. The highquality digital enhancements
andediting as one sign morphedintoanother greatly enhancedthis signedwork.
The World According to Pat. Perf. Patrick Graybill. [Silver Spring, MD] : T.J. Publishers, 1986
The World According To Pat, performedat the Regional Conventionin1984, isa memoir
of Graybill’s as well as other storytellers. Mostof the accountshave a humoroustoneas
they describe the joysof learning ASL and difficulties of growing up in an oppressed
minority group. Lively tales where the storyteller wouldbothtell and showwhat was
going onwere recounted of the lunchroomhappenings, morningroutines, andliterary
nightsthat occurred every thirdSunday. Theliterary nightthat Patrick describes is the
essence of carnival. They were joyoustimes to participate in andpassdown the
vernacular art of oral unconstrainedcommunicationtostudentpeers away from school.
Literary nightsare referred to as polyglossiabecauseof the trademark of signed English
works. Patrick givesthe viewers a glimpse into the literary nightshe participated in by
performing a portionof “Yankee Doodle Dandy”and“The Black Cat”. Throughouthis
performances, Patrick’sfacial expressions, eye movements, androll shifts, and use of
classifiers depict ASL’s lexicon, morphology, andsyntax.
Ladd, Paddy. Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood. Clevedon, England:
Multilingual Matters,2003. Print

6. Teixeira 6
To quotefrom the original description, UnderstandingDeafCulture InSearch of
Deafhoodis a “Traveler’s Guide” to Deaf culture. Paddy Ladd, Deaf scholar, author,
activist, and researcher, who coined the term Deafhood, skillfully analysescomplex Deaf
culture concepts andsummarizesthemto reflect a vernacular andcomprehensionlevel
for even the novice Deaf studiesstudentto understand. Ata total of 496 pages, this is no
shortwork; the table of contentsis very descriptive to bringyouto the specific topic
desired. Skimmingorsq3rwould be very effective for this text.
Spradley, Thomas S. Deaf Like Me: Gallaudet UP,1985. Print
Authoredby LynnSpradley’sUncleand Father, “Deaf Like Me” 1985 isthe personal story
of Louise and ThomasSpradley’sjourney of anger, fear, disappointment, anddesiresto
teach their deaf daughter, LynnSpradley, tobe ‘normal’. By her ownefforts, Lynnlearns
sign languageafter five yearsof grueling auditory trainingand convincesher parents to
allow her to attenda deaf school. Lynnbecomes aware of her father writing a book about
her and her family at age seven, butdoesn’tfully comprehendit until she is older. The
book deals commondeaf literary topics: oppression, prejudice, ignorance, and resistance.
In the portionthatLynnauthoredherself, she quotes, “It is notjust my story, it’s our
story.”
Bauman, H-Dirksen L. Open Your Eyes: Deaf Studies Talking. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota,
2008 Print.
H-DirksenL. Bauman, coeditorof Signing theBody Poeticandexecutive producer and
codirector of the documentary film AudismUnveiled, alsoedited in 2008 thewritten
work Open YourEyes:Deaf StudiesTalking. Many contributedtotheproject suchas:
Benjamin Bahan, RobertHoffmeister, Tom Humphries, Paddy Ladd, Harlan Lane, Carol
Padden, andothers. OpenYour Eyes is an entry level work to introducereaders to the
Deaf perspective ontheir communalculture, identity (deaf, sexuality, disabled, enabled),
literacy, and history. Sinceit is written by Deaf authorsit offers a uniqueexperience.
Regardless of the fact thatthe text is an example of Deaf literature itself, the authors
dedicate an entire section of the book todeaf literacy and language.
V., Van Cleve John, and Barry A. Crouch. A Place of Their Own: Creating the Deaf
Community in America. Washington, D.C.:Gallaudet UP,1989. Print.
Gallaudet University Presspublished“A Place of Their Own:Creating theDeaf Community
in America” in 1989. JohnVickrey Van Cleve former history professorat Gallaudet as well

7. Teixeira 7
as historianBarry A. Crouch, thoroughly examinewithin twelve chaptersdeaf history in
America- its schools, its struggle to remain unified, eugenics, oralism, andother
oppressions, thepreservationof signs, the proposalof a Deaf state, the foundingof
Gallaudet University, all the way to the rise of the community defendingtheir rights with
assistancefrom variousstate and nationalorganizationsandnewspapers. This literary
work includes insightfulmanuscriptsourcesand black & white sketches of important
historical figures.
Carlin, John. "The Mute's Lament." American Annals of the Deaf and Dumb. Vol. 1.1847. pag
15-16. Gallaudet University Library Archives. Web. 7 May 2016
JohnCarlin’sconventionalpoetry including “The Mute’sLament”, embodiesdysconcious
audism. He focuses attentionon how he is unable tohear or speak – he is an outsider.
While beautifully written, John’spoemaffirms the myththat Deaf peopleare afflicted
despairingindividualsalienated from society. Phrasessuch as “Deep silence o’er all, and
all seemslifeless.. vocal with merry tones- I hear themnot”, furthersthe oralist cause
thatspeech is superior.
Elestren. "ASL Poetry Class Final Project - Black Hole: Color ASL by Debbie
Rennie." YouTube. YouTube, 12 Dec. 2013. Web. 08 May 2016
“Black Hole: Color ASL” aneloquent ASL performance is one of many from Debbie Rennie
foundin Poetry in Motion. Thepoemis symbolicof one’sinner turmoilin the journey of
discoveringand proudly displayingAmerican SignLanguage. The black hole represents
the time of languagedeprivation;the paintcans of color signify the visualexpressive
nature of ASL. Adaptionsof Debbie’s performancecan be viewed online.
Lapiak, Jolanta. "Dandelions: ASL Poetry by Clayton Valli." Dandelions: Poem by Clayton Valli.
Handspeak, n.d. Web. 08 May 2016.
ClaytonValli, Deaf poetry’sRobertFrost, is well knownfor rhyme, rhythm, classifiers,
repetition, and alliteration techniques. One of his mostpopularworks was “Dandelion”.
As with otherrecorded performances, onecan grasp the meaningof the performance
with only oneviewing. The permanency of the recording allows the audience to discover
the symbolismbeneaththe surface. Claytonexpressesthe overall themeoppression
makesyougrow stronger. He comparesdandelionsto deaf people. Deaf are considered
weeds of a society amongflowers. The flowers declared themas lesser-than. The

8. Teixeira 8
dandelionsremained andcontinuedto spreadthroughthe obstaclesof wind, rain, and
attemptsof forceful eradication.
Poetry In Motion. Perf. Patrick Graybill. Liberation., 1990. Web. 06 May 2016.
A particular noteworthy poetry performancewas Liberation. Graybill’s Liberation wasa
portionof a larger work recorded with other poetssuch as ClaytonValli andDebbie
Rennie, Poetry In Motion:OriginalWorksin ASL. He only incorporated3 handshapesinto
the poem(CL:C, CL: B bent, and CL:X)for a total of only 17 signs. The recorded
technology allowed for the viewers to review the poemand analyzethe work for deeper
meaningwhich Patrick took full advantageof. He incorporatedhis own personaljoys
being able to freely use ASL, desires, frustrations, andanguishof otherswithin the Deaf
community, andhistoricalexperiences of Deaf Americans.
SorensonVRSVideos. "Deaf Traditions: Poetry and Storytelling -." YouTube. YouTube, 01 Mar.
2016. Web. 07 May 2016
Particularly tothe untrainedhearing eye, “Jabberwocky”isavery difficult piece to
understand. Thepoemin its original form is frozen text, written by Lewis Carroll.
However, Eric Malzkuhncreatedhis own ASL translation. The signs themselvesaren’t
comprehensible;it is the syntaxandvisual narrativethat makesit an enjoyably
performance. Forthis reason, Jabberwocky is concludedas a primary sourcefor deaf
literature’s concept of “delivery over content”thus, it is a part of the canon.

9. Teixeira 9
Contents:
Deaf in Film
1) Deaf Jam
2) For a Deaf Son
3) The Little Mermaid
4) See NoEvil,Hear NoEvil
5) Granville
6) PreservationVideos
Deaf Theater
1) SpringAwakening
2) Taste of Sunrise
Signed Works by Deaf Storytellers
1) SnowyDay
2) Caterpillar
3) The World Accordingto Pat
Written Works by Deaf Authors
1) UnderstandingDeaf Culture In Searchof Deafhood
2) Deaf Like Me
3) OpenYour Eyes:Deaf StudiesTalking
4) A Place Of TheirOwn

10. Teixeira 10
5) The Mute’s Lament
Poetry
1) Black Hole:ColorASL
2) Dandelions
3) PoetryInMotion
4) Jabberwocky