Understanding Deaf Culture

The painting depicts the Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood, written by Dr. Paddy Ladd. This work I examined my Deafhood journey, Deaf identity, and audism. The painting shows people gathered around a table. There is a book on the table entitled Deaf Subaltern Elites and Rebels as per Dr. Ladd’s book. An overhanging light illuminates the space and the signers. Each person present responds different to the discussion: “Really,” “horrible,” “PAH!,” “Shhh- hands off,” “kick out,” “Y E S,” “UNITY” and a dog is under the table with the tags “Deaf Dog” “I love ASL.” A portrait of Laurent Clerc, who brought French Sign Language and thus contributed to the birth of American Sign Language, hangs on the wall.