The termdeaf cultureis commonly used in the deaf community. Deaf culture is used to describe unique characteristics found among the population of deaf and hard of hearing people. It’s reflected in art, literature, social environments, and much more.
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What Is Deaf Culture?
Cultural Arts
Cinema
Theatre
Art
Books
Poetry
Music
Deaf Artists
American Sign Language (ASL)
In order to define deaf culture, we must first understand the definition of culture in general. Culture is typically used to describe the patterns, traits, products, attitudes, and intellectual or artistic activity associated with a particular population.
Based on this definition, the deaf community can be said to have its own unique culture. Deaf and hard of hearing people produce plays, books, artwork, magazines, and movies targeted at deaf and hard of hearing audiences. In addition, the deaf community engages in social and political activities exclusive to them.
American deaf culture is a living, growing, changing a thing as new activities are developed and the output of intellectual works increases.
Deaf Cultural Arts
Throughout the country, you can find exhibits of deaf artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors, and more. While some incorporate a hearing loss theme into their work, others do not and you might not even know that they cannot hear.
Look around for art displays at local deaf community organizations and schools. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf’sDyer Arts Centerin Rochester, New York has some fantastic examples of deaf art on regular display.
Deaf Theatre
For years,deaf theatergroups have developed and produced plays with deafness and sign language on the stage. There are professional deaf theater companies that entertain deaf and hearing audiences alike.
Deaf Westis just one of the notable deaf theater companies. They were so successful in the production of “Big River,” that it made it onto Broadway. This show included both deaf and hearing actors.
You will also find a number of amateur and children’s theater troupes specifically for deaf people. These are a fantastic way to get involved in your local deaf community.
Books on Deafness
A number of deaf and hard of hearing people have written and published books with themes on sign language and deafness. Several of these have become required reading indeaf studies classes.
Deaf Cinema
Deaf people have produced movies and hold their own film festivals. These often focus on a celebration of deaf culture and are a great time for the community to gather.
In fact, in 1902, ASL was the first recorded language in cinema, predating spoken films.
Poems on Deafness
Deaf people use poems to express their feelings about having a hearing loss or to describe their experiences. Some poems are online and others have been collected in books.
ASL poetry is a special form of poetry that uses sign language. Research shows deaf students benefit from studying ASL poetry and learning to express themselves creatively through poetry.
Deaf people have also created their own form of deaf humor that focuses on the deaf experience. Likewise, ABC stories can be told using the sign language alphabet and there are many unique idioms in sign language.
Sign Language
Sign languageis the aspect of deaf culture most closely identified with deafness. Deaf and hearing people who are native signers—that is, they grew up with sign language—tend to have the most fluent signing skills.
Each country has its own sign language. Even within countries, you will find sign language dialects.
Perspectives on Deaf Culture
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness.Understanding the deaf culture and the deaf world.Durr P.Deaf cinema. In: Gertz G, Boudreault P, eds.The SAGE Deaf Studies Encyclopedia. 2016;3:158. doi:10.4135/9781483346489.n56Arenson R, Kretschmer RE.Teaching poetry: a descriptive case study of a poetry unit in a classroom of urban deaf adolescents.Am Ann Deaf. 2010;155(2):110–7. doi:10.1353/aad.2010.0008Additional ReadingNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.American Sign Language.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness.Understanding the deaf culture and the deaf world.Durr P.Deaf cinema. In: Gertz G, Boudreault P, eds.The SAGE Deaf Studies Encyclopedia. 2016;3:158. doi:10.4135/9781483346489.n56Arenson R, Kretschmer RE.Teaching poetry: a descriptive case study of a poetry unit in a classroom of urban deaf adolescents.Am Ann Deaf. 2010;155(2):110–7. doi:10.1353/aad.2010.0008Additional ReadingNational Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.American Sign Language.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness.Understanding the deaf culture and the deaf world.Durr P.Deaf cinema. In: Gertz G, Boudreault P, eds.The SAGE Deaf Studies Encyclopedia. 2016;3:158. doi:10.4135/9781483346489.n56Arenson R, Kretschmer RE.Teaching poetry: a descriptive case study of a poetry unit in a classroom of urban deaf adolescents.Am Ann Deaf. 2010;155(2):110–7. doi:10.1353/aad.2010.0008
The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness.Understanding the deaf culture and the deaf world.
Durr P.Deaf cinema. In: Gertz G, Boudreault P, eds.The SAGE Deaf Studies Encyclopedia. 2016;3:158. doi:10.4135/9781483346489.n56
Arenson R, Kretschmer RE.Teaching poetry: a descriptive case study of a poetry unit in a classroom of urban deaf adolescents.Am Ann Deaf. 2010;155(2):110–7. doi:10.1353/aad.2010.0008
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.American Sign Language.
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