Blog #3: Deaf People in the Media

Deaf people and sign language are sometimes displayed by the media. But just exactly how are they displayed? Let's look at it.



For this blog posting, I want you to view how the media portrays Deaf people. I have selected five commercials for you to watch. These commercials all use sign language as their primary communication method. I want you to watch there commercials and think about what message they are sending about Deaf Culture and Deaf people. Do you feel these commercials show the strengths of Deaf people and their language? Who were these commercials for? Did they reach both the hearing world and deaf world? Which commercial(s) do you think portrayed the best image of Deaf people and their culture? Which do you think portrayed the worst? Support your responses.

For the Pepsi commercial "Bob's House" view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffrq6cUoE5A


For the Kay Jeweler commercial view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM5CJzoP5JE


For the Thailand commercial view: (this is not signed in ASL): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeAhnagJdcA


For the Chinese Pantene commercial view: (these is not signed in ASL): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opOQlA0LVqo

For the iphone commercial view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yatSAEqNL7k



Which of these commercials do you feel are based on Deaf folklore. In Deaf folklore being deaf allows the person to triumph or succeed. As a result of their deafness they are able to overcome an obstacle. How does this commercial portray that being Deaf allows triumph rather than defeat?Feel Free to add any comments and questions that you wish. This blog is designed to be used for a class discussion. All comments, opinions, thoughts, ideas, and questions are welcome. Be sure to read all students postings and to comment on those as well. You must respond to at least 2 students.

***Your first post to this is due Thursday, June13 by 11:30 pm and your second post to another student is due Sunday, June 16th by 11:30 pm

Blog #2: Fighting for Deaf Rights!

Like any minority group, a constant struggle for rights and equality is a driving force in the culture and for some groups is the only thing that brings the spotlight into the public eye. Deaf Culture has essentially been through a hidden and tumultuous history -

(1.) Were you educated at all about the struggles of the Deaf Community or Deaf Culture at all in school?Through our history classes, we are told of people who changed the world, through revolution, technology, and other methods. Many of your learned about the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell (hopefully all of you are aware of that name, actually). But, as with other people in history, a sense of "heroification" has been applied to Bell and his life.

(2.)What is heroification? Well, we all learned about his invention and his mark on history. But did any of your textbooks contain this information?

Click this link and read.http://www.pbs.org/weta/throughdeafeyes/deaflife/bell_nad.html

3. How does the Deaf community view Alexander Graham Bell?

Throughout this course we will further discuss political issues in the Deaf community and how quiet their outbursts and protests have seemed to the rest of the world. However, there was one moment in time where the world took notice.

Click this link, and read everything you can about the Deaf President Now! movement.http://www.gallaudet.edu/x42164.xml

I'm gonna take a stab in the dark here and assume none of you had heard the information presented here today - maybe a little at most.

(4.) So, what's your take on all of it? Why don't we learn about this stuff in school? Give me some reasons why we should, or if you think there isn't room or it lacks overall importance, voice your opinion.If you have a point to make (you should), back it up. Provide a link to a fact or an article or something that supports your claims. It's one thing to give an opinion, but it's another thing to back and support it.

ALL OF THE ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ARE IN BOLD FONT. PLEASE ADDRESS ALL OF THEM IN YOUR RESPONSE - THE SAME RULES WILL APPLY TO ALL BLOG POSTS.

Feel free to talk about more than just the questions posed to you.