James.Womack@f14.n300.z1.fidonet.org (James Womack) (04/17/91)
Index Number: 15004
[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
We looked at the basic storyline, the characters, and the
language I used. Now let's look at cultural influences. Is there
anything specific to the deaf culture? I'm not talking about clothing
and the environment. I mean if the boy is dea f, did you notice
anything interesting that was portrayed about our culture? Did you
notice anything about the character's actions or beliefs related to
deaf culture? (Response: The boy was alone. He ran away.) Before
the boy ran away, what happe ned? (Response: There was a sense of
isolation.) The boy was isolated. How was he isolated? (Response:
The boy was alone and painting.) Right. How did you connect the
painting and the isolation? Why did you mention painting? (Response:
Mayb e painting is a way for him to express himself.) O.K., perhaps
the boy expresses himself through his painting. Can the boy's father
sign? (Response: No.) You all know a lot about the life experiences
of the deaf. If you didn't know a lot about t heir lives, you would
be surprised that deaf children's parents often don't sign. People
who watch this story can't believe that his parents don't sign. The
more a person doesn't know about the deaf, the more they think that
his hearing parents sho uld sign. Did you know that? People off the
streets would say that they know the parents would learn to sign
somehow. But that is not true. Most parents don't know how to sign.
That is one of the cultural experiences of being deaf. Ninety perce
nt of the parents who have deaf children are hearing so naturally they
don't know sign language when their child is born. That is a fact.
That is how deaf people live. It's awful. Then, do many hearing
parents learn to sign like people on the str eet think? No, most do
not. Students are shocked to learn that and think that is even worse!
Times are beginning to change nowadays though. In the past most
parents didn't sign.
Do you think this story took place a long time ago or in
recent times? (Response: In the past.) Right. Let's discuss that a
little more. You decided the story took place in the past on the
basis of the lantern. When did electrical light ing start to be used?
(Response: In the 1880's.) What about on farms? (Response: In the
1920's.) So that means this story took place some time prior to 1920.
You could discuss how deaf people lived during that time period. The
story would giv e you some ideas.
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