Wow. Doesn’t this make you think? On so many levels.
For example: Although there was nothing to hear, the background sound of people chattering and laughing while Luczak was performing made me think “Ssh! I can’t hear!”
Raymond Luczak performs his poem, ‘Orphans,’ in American Sign Language (ASL)
February 9, 2011 at 9:35 am
This is marvelous! So striking in its implications about those of us who “hear”.
I recently read Oliver Sacks’ “The Mind’s Eye”; this video recalls stories in that book about the differences between those with and those without sight, and how much more vividly we “see” using our mind’s eye.
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February 9, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Great find! I actually devoted quite a lot of time looking for a good sign-language poem video a year ago, but didn’t turn anything up. This on the other hand is definitely Moving Poems material. (I’ll link back here when I use it.)
February 10, 2011 at 8:59 am
So amazing. Thanks for finding and posting this. I found myself watching him, and just glancing at the words now and then. His face, his movement, and his hands were “saying” everything.
Learning ASL is one of those dreams of mine. Would like to interpret for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. I have signed “Dover Beach” in a play before, and learned enough to play a character in love with a deaf man for that play, but I have forgotten most of what I learned. I know how to sign that last fact!
February 13, 2011 at 5:23 am
The missing link between poetry and dance. There are creative implications here for the deaf and the hearing alike. I once directed a piece for dancers and recorded dialogue – a lovers’ breakup ‘phone conversation with commentary by four dancers. It was a fascinating challenge and one I’ve always wanted to repeat. Maybe this might be a fruitful direction – a poem, dance and signing. (Wanders off ruminatively…)
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