David Call’s The Crucifixion of Sign Language is particularly striking to me because of its integration of an eminent religious symbol with sign language to convey a thought-provoking message¬– sacrifice and tolerance. The overall tone of the piece is assembled upon suffering and sacrifices that the Deaf community had to endured during the period of sign language oppression. Needless to say, there are countless negative implications as a result of the Milan Conference in 1880, but I believe that a greater effort towards tolerance, coexistence, and understanding of the Deaf language and culture is one gradual positive impact.
The crucifix is a Catholic symbol that embodies the sacred significance of suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus …show more content…
David Call depicts sign language in a similar light, where it is condemned by a group of hearing-dominant individuals. The forceful switch of sign language to oralism might not be done out of ill intention or suppression, but it certainly happened as a result of intolerance and the desire to assimilate the Deaf minority into the hearing-majority of the population. The sudden shift in the language propelled many Deaf students into a distressing state, both mentally and physically, not being able to use their hands to communicate in a natural manner. The sign language crucifix in David Call’s work embodies the agony and hardship that Deaf students and the Deaf community at large had to endured just like how the Catholic crucifix symbol embodies the pain and suffering of Jesus. In my opinion, the artist’s intention is to recreate the severity and extent to which sign language was massacred and condemned at the time through …show more content…
I began to think about the meaning of the hand sign and how it really hits close to home when considering the mindset of parents in sending their children to boarding schools that require them to mimic speech patterns to resemble their hearing counterparts, while locking away their Deaf identities and culture that are inseparably connected to signing. The outlook of “helping” the Deaf through forceful speech therapies and auditory restoration treatments will only do more harm than good. I believe that mutual efforts, support, and understanding can help overcome problems resulting from cultural differences between minority groups and the majority group. Every parent wants their child to have a happy, healthy, and normal childhood. Parents of a Deaf child can also provide their child with a happy, healthy, and normal childhood when they are willing to accept the fact that Deafness is a state that should be embraced and not fixed. Just because something can be fixed it does not mean that it
The crucifix is a Catholic symbol that embodies the sacred significance of suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus …show more content…
David Call depicts sign language in a similar light, where it is condemned by a group of hearing-dominant individuals. The forceful switch of sign language to oralism might not be done out of ill intention or suppression, but it certainly happened as a result of intolerance and the desire to assimilate the Deaf minority into the hearing-majority of the population. The sudden shift in the language propelled many Deaf students into a distressing state, both mentally and physically, not being able to use their hands to communicate in a natural manner. The sign language crucifix in David Call’s work embodies the agony and hardship that Deaf students and the Deaf community at large had to endured just like how the Catholic crucifix symbol embodies the pain and suffering of Jesus. In my opinion, the artist’s intention is to recreate the severity and extent to which sign language was massacred and condemned at the time through …show more content…
I began to think about the meaning of the hand sign and how it really hits close to home when considering the mindset of parents in sending their children to boarding schools that require them to mimic speech patterns to resemble their hearing counterparts, while locking away their Deaf identities and culture that are inseparably connected to signing. The outlook of “helping” the Deaf through forceful speech therapies and auditory restoration treatments will only do more harm than good. I believe that mutual efforts, support, and understanding can help overcome problems resulting from cultural differences between minority groups and the majority group. Every parent wants their child to have a happy, healthy, and normal childhood. Parents of a Deaf child can also provide their child with a happy, healthy, and normal childhood when they are willing to accept the fact that Deafness is a state that should be embraced and not fixed. Just because something can be fixed it does not mean that it