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Reflection Of Deaf Jam

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The documentary Deaf Jam produced by New Day Films provided an in-depth look into the beauty and dexterity of American Sign Language (ASL) while highlighting many important aspects of deaf culture. It also gave an even deeper analysis of the personal lives of those who are deaf and the societal and emotional struggles they face every day. This was done through the eyes of an Israeli immigrant named Aneta Brodski and her empowering journey to share her story through signed slam poetry. Through watching this documentary, my understanding on the many modalities people who are deaf use to communication was expanded. During many of Aneta’s interactions with her new friend Tahani, while they wrote their slam poem, she not only relied on an …show more content…

The idea that ASL is more than just a means of communication for those who are deaf was a profound message and made me rethink my own preconceived conclusions of what ASL can and cannot eloquently communicate. It also shows how, much like all languages, ASL is constantly evolving. One the most crucial distinctions made in the documentary, especially for those who are new to the topic, was about how people who are deaf have their own distinct culture and language. Through the process of the students writing their slam poems and delving deeper into the history of Deaf culture during the storytelling workshop, the importance of recognizing ASL as its own separate culture with its own origins and language syntax is highlighted. Also, the way in which the students play with the meaning of signs to further highlight self-expression illustrates the deep cultural and artistic elements that shine through when we recognize the abilities of those we assume our inherently different than us. This documentary does an excellent job of advocating for the acknowledgment of people who are deaf within society. This is shown through not only the brilliantly written and performed poems of the students but also in the basic, everyday struggles each of them face, such as the desire to fit in or be valued by those around them. Deafness is not a specific to any gender, race, culture, or religion. The struggles many people who are deaf go through are relatable to all and

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