vent
I have spent the last 24 hours immersed in the silence project, and it is really becoming something else. Soumitri asked me today how its going, and I couldn’t really describe the acceleration I have felt in ideas and concepts, mainly fuelled by discussions with my friend Gabi.
Yesterday I emailed Jenny Shaw from disabilities liaison unit at RMIT, with the hope that she could pass on the information to deaf students. At night I had dinner with Gabi, and we talked for about an hour on what it’s like to be deaf. I learnt so much, and she opened a lot of doors for me. We emailed later that night, Gabi sending me more information on deaf culture, including an interview by Philip Adams. From that information, I found some books which I hired out this morning from the library. I also read a proposal for a documentary on deaf kids – it’s called Welcome to my deaf world and details deaf life for year 12 kids.
In the afternoon I met with Kate Middleton, the Melbourne poet I have invited to collaborate on the project. She was open to the ideas I presented to her, and mentioned a lot of interesting concepts of music in poetry and spoken word: timing, pitch etc. I think some of these music concepts translate better into Auslan than alliteration or other traditional poetic devices. Later, Gabi and I visited Vic Deaf in Albert Street and got some more information. Gabi was a great help. We found out about some deaf theatre happening that night, and attended at 7.30. It was one of the strangest experiences I have been in, and I’ll talk about it later. I gave my idea sheet to Chris Dunn, who is an Auslan teacher and prominent figure in the deaf community. Afterwards Gabi and I spoke over pho ga and now I feel mentally exhausted.
Jenny Shaw has just written back to say she will pass on the information to deaf students in the community.
Dinner with Gab last night (I can’t believe it was last night!) was amazing. It was great to see her again, as we had not met up for nearly 2 months or more. We had originally talked about the sound project, and she inspired me to look into the deaf aspect further. I hadn’t realised the intricacies and complications within the deaf community and disparities with hearing people. I was unaware of the strong deaf culture which is less publicised than cultures of other minority groups (to use that term broadly). All this discussion made me feel stronger about needing to make this installation.
I talked with Gabi about my idea of secrets. That sound is the hearing persons secret from the deaf, and (generally) Auslan the deaf secret from the hearing. I talked about displaying the video in the street as an Auslan poem, with no translation in English. But then deaf people would not know that there was no sound, and hearing people would not know what it was about! So, I realised I need some sort of description of the content of the poem, and reasons for doing it. I need an agenda. I also need to have the poem written in both English and performed in Auslan, perhaps in two separate locations, but definitely discrete, so that they remain two languages talking about the same thing.
Language was another thing we talked about, and we came to the conclusion that any early revisions of poems in Auslan would need to be videoed in order to be reviewed. An English poem can be written and performed, whereas Auslan cannot be written effectively as to communicate the content. We need to develop the two poems at the same time. Therefore we need concepts to move between, to branch from idea to idea at the same time in both poems. It may be an atypical way of poetry writing Kate!
From my brief research this morning, I found out about how it is to be little d deaf and big D Deaf. Big D Deaf refers to deaf people who embrace a deaf way of life, communicating in Auslan in action and English when written. Big D Deaf people are typically deaf from birth, but don’t consider that they have hearing loss, rather than they never had any to begin with. It is these people who keep deaf culture.
Little d deaf people speak and write English, though may sign English. They use technology to keep in the midst of the hearing world, and do not typically participate as strongly in Deaf culture. I guess I see little d deaf as more like integration into a hearing world and big D Deaf as more multicultural.
The meeting with Kate went well. As mentioned she had a lot to say about her background in music, and poetry, as well as other experiences, and how we thought that could help translate into co-authoring this poem. The meeting was mainly to meet, and for me to get my ideas out there. Gabi was there as well, which was great (it’s fantastic to spend time with her) and we talked more about deafness, particularly about interpreting Auslan.
It’s hard to know how traditional poetry will be interpreted in Auslan. Though, I think I am beginning to build a strong framework for the poetry’s creation, and it is the content that I need to work harder to get.
Gabi and I walked to Vic Deaf from animal orchestra (a fair way), and spoke to Chris at the front desk who gave us the contact for the deaf theatre, a contact at VCOD and a venue we could meet deaf people at (we later decided not to go). Chris also suggested that staff at Vic Deaf (to whom my information had been passed on to) may be reluctant to reply as there are a lot of calls for help from the deaf community.
Arriving at the performance was intimidating, and I started to strongly empathise with deaf people. I have been in a room full of German speakers, when I am the only English speaker. But to enter a room which is bustling with arms waving in all directions, and the only real sound is occasional laughter, is an amazing experience. Suddenly I was mesmerised with old friends catching up with fingers flying. I felt completely ignorant and naïve. Gabi was signing away to someone (it was beautiful to see her engaging so effectively) and for the first time I felt strangely illiterate. I was immersed in the deaf’s secret (Auslan) as they are immersed in my secret (sound - the hearing person’s world) every day. I was confronted with not being able to understand their language, and in a way I was momentarily and metaphorically deaf. It was a profound experience
It didn’t last long though. I was grateful to an interpreter when the prologue to the show started, and some signs were explained in English. The main dialogue in the play was in mime and sign, but I could understand all that was happening. It was pretty simple, but impressive and exciting to witness.
Gabi signed afterwards with people, and found out some more information for me. I was a bit overwhelmed and unused to speaking through a translator so I stayed silent. I also met up with Renee, who is learning sign at the Kangan Batman TAFE. Her signing was incredible after nearly a years work, and she answered a lot of my questions. She was excellent at signing and talking at the same time (not really Auslan as it has a different sentence structure, so really speaking English while doing the corresponding signs). That helped me out, and made me realise the complexity of some of the compound words. There is also a lot of symbolism (not mime) in some of the actions.
At dinner, I formed a diagram with Gabi, in order to design the framework (stake holders and players) in order to make it happen.
I need to write an agenda as well, including a description of the project, reasons for doing it, and most importantly a location/site. I haven’t really thought about it yet, though something from the content may come to mind.
I am exhausted and exhilarated by the project. I feel like I am really challenging myself. Though I am a little worried about getting it finished in time, I will be happy to have gone through what I have dome so far. I just wish I recorded more of it!
Yesterday I emailed Jenny Shaw from disabilities liaison unit at RMIT, with the hope that she could pass on the information to deaf students. At night I had dinner with Gabi, and we talked for about an hour on what it’s like to be deaf. I learnt so much, and she opened a lot of doors for me. We emailed later that night, Gabi sending me more information on deaf culture, including an interview by Philip Adams. From that information, I found some books which I hired out this morning from the library. I also read a proposal for a documentary on deaf kids – it’s called Welcome to my deaf world and details deaf life for year 12 kids.
In the afternoon I met with Kate Middleton, the Melbourne poet I have invited to collaborate on the project. She was open to the ideas I presented to her, and mentioned a lot of interesting concepts of music in poetry and spoken word: timing, pitch etc. I think some of these music concepts translate better into Auslan than alliteration or other traditional poetic devices. Later, Gabi and I visited Vic Deaf in Albert Street and got some more information. Gabi was a great help. We found out about some deaf theatre happening that night, and attended at 7.30. It was one of the strangest experiences I have been in, and I’ll talk about it later. I gave my idea sheet to Chris Dunn, who is an Auslan teacher and prominent figure in the deaf community. Afterwards Gabi and I spoke over pho ga and now I feel mentally exhausted.
Jenny Shaw has just written back to say she will pass on the information to deaf students in the community.
Dinner with Gab last night (I can’t believe it was last night!) was amazing. It was great to see her again, as we had not met up for nearly 2 months or more. We had originally talked about the sound project, and she inspired me to look into the deaf aspect further. I hadn’t realised the intricacies and complications within the deaf community and disparities with hearing people. I was unaware of the strong deaf culture which is less publicised than cultures of other minority groups (to use that term broadly). All this discussion made me feel stronger about needing to make this installation.
I talked with Gabi about my idea of secrets. That sound is the hearing persons secret from the deaf, and (generally) Auslan the deaf secret from the hearing. I talked about displaying the video in the street as an Auslan poem, with no translation in English. But then deaf people would not know that there was no sound, and hearing people would not know what it was about! So, I realised I need some sort of description of the content of the poem, and reasons for doing it. I need an agenda. I also need to have the poem written in both English and performed in Auslan, perhaps in two separate locations, but definitely discrete, so that they remain two languages talking about the same thing.
Language was another thing we talked about, and we came to the conclusion that any early revisions of poems in Auslan would need to be videoed in order to be reviewed. An English poem can be written and performed, whereas Auslan cannot be written effectively as to communicate the content. We need to develop the two poems at the same time. Therefore we need concepts to move between, to branch from idea to idea at the same time in both poems. It may be an atypical way of poetry writing Kate!
From my brief research this morning, I found out about how it is to be little d deaf and big D Deaf. Big D Deaf refers to deaf people who embrace a deaf way of life, communicating in Auslan in action and English when written. Big D Deaf people are typically deaf from birth, but don’t consider that they have hearing loss, rather than they never had any to begin with. It is these people who keep deaf culture.
Little d deaf people speak and write English, though may sign English. They use technology to keep in the midst of the hearing world, and do not typically participate as strongly in Deaf culture. I guess I see little d deaf as more like integration into a hearing world and big D Deaf as more multicultural.
The meeting with Kate went well. As mentioned she had a lot to say about her background in music, and poetry, as well as other experiences, and how we thought that could help translate into co-authoring this poem. The meeting was mainly to meet, and for me to get my ideas out there. Gabi was there as well, which was great (it’s fantastic to spend time with her) and we talked more about deafness, particularly about interpreting Auslan.
It’s hard to know how traditional poetry will be interpreted in Auslan. Though, I think I am beginning to build a strong framework for the poetry’s creation, and it is the content that I need to work harder to get.
Gabi and I walked to Vic Deaf from animal orchestra (a fair way), and spoke to Chris at the front desk who gave us the contact for the deaf theatre, a contact at VCOD and a venue we could meet deaf people at (we later decided not to go). Chris also suggested that staff at Vic Deaf (to whom my information had been passed on to) may be reluctant to reply as there are a lot of calls for help from the deaf community.
Arriving at the performance was intimidating, and I started to strongly empathise with deaf people. I have been in a room full of German speakers, when I am the only English speaker. But to enter a room which is bustling with arms waving in all directions, and the only real sound is occasional laughter, is an amazing experience. Suddenly I was mesmerised with old friends catching up with fingers flying. I felt completely ignorant and naïve. Gabi was signing away to someone (it was beautiful to see her engaging so effectively) and for the first time I felt strangely illiterate. I was immersed in the deaf’s secret (Auslan) as they are immersed in my secret (sound - the hearing person’s world) every day. I was confronted with not being able to understand their language, and in a way I was momentarily and metaphorically deaf. It was a profound experience
It didn’t last long though. I was grateful to an interpreter when the prologue to the show started, and some signs were explained in English. The main dialogue in the play was in mime and sign, but I could understand all that was happening. It was pretty simple, but impressive and exciting to witness.
Gabi signed afterwards with people, and found out some more information for me. I was a bit overwhelmed and unused to speaking through a translator so I stayed silent. I also met up with Renee, who is learning sign at the Kangan Batman TAFE. Her signing was incredible after nearly a years work, and she answered a lot of my questions. She was excellent at signing and talking at the same time (not really Auslan as it has a different sentence structure, so really speaking English while doing the corresponding signs). That helped me out, and made me realise the complexity of some of the compound words. There is also a lot of symbolism (not mime) in some of the actions.
At dinner, I formed a diagram with Gabi, in order to design the framework (stake holders and players) in order to make it happen.
I need to write an agenda as well, including a description of the project, reasons for doing it, and most importantly a location/site. I haven’t really thought about it yet, though something from the content may come to mind.
I am exhausted and exhilarated by the project. I feel like I am really challenging myself. Though I am a little worried about getting it finished in time, I will be happy to have gone through what I have dome so far. I just wish I recorded more of it!
posted by ben at 11:56 PM
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