Browsing by Author "Gil, Cristina"
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- Beyond the hearing line. Utopian representations of Flournoy’s CommonwealthPublication . Gil, CristinaAs the CfP for the Summer School points out, "one of the most striking and unique features of the human mind is its capacity to represent realities that transcend its immediate time and space, by engaging complex symbolic systems, most notably language". Along history, the understanding of the languages which could work in this sense excluded expressively the use of signed languages, reaching its most radical rejection in the so-called Milan Congress, in 1855. 25 years before, during the Deaf Golden Age, John J. Flournoy and William W. Turner exchanged letters discussing Flournoy’s wish of creating a Deaf Commonwealth, claiming for the Deaf peoples the right to "transcend their immediate time and space". Samuel Porter, the American Annals of the Deaf editor at this time, decided to ask both to publish such letters since he thought the topic was of relevance to the community. More Deaf relevant figures became inspired to contribute to the discussion, namely Edmund Booth who brought pertinent perspectives concerning the consequences of a mostly hearing offspring. The desire for the creation of a Deaf Commonwealth is a recurrent utopian projection of Sign Language Peoples. The longing for a place where Sign Language is all around, where Deaf have full accessibility has guided narratives that the community has created. The notion of a Deaf city, state or country sometimes appear in poems, prose, movies and other artistic manifestations of the Deaf that are now under cultural analysis by this on-going research. This dream was to be transformed into a novel 131 years later, in 1986, by Douglas Bullard as he wrote Islay – a novel that fits into the category of Deaf Literature as well as under the utopian genre.
- Beyond the hearing line: utopian representations of Flournoy’s CommonwealthPublication . Gil, CristinaThroughout history, the framework under which structured languages were theorised overtly excluded signed languages. The peak of such rejection manifested in the so-called Milan Congress, a gathering of educators of the deaf in 1880. 25 years prior to this event, during a particularly auspicious period in Deaf history, Deaf activist John J. Flournoy and educator William W. Turner exchanged letters discussing the former’s wish to create a Deaf Commonwealth. Samuel Porter, the American Annals of the Deaf editor at this time, decided to ask both gentlemen to publish such letters, for their topic was of relevance to the community. Several influential Deaf figures became inspired to contribute to this discussion, particularly Edmund Booth who brought in his perspectives on the possible consequences of a numerous hearing offspring on the success of the project. The desire for the creation of a Deaf Commonwealth is a recurrent utopian projection deriving from Sign Language Peoples. About 130 years after the exchanged letters, the same construct interestingly appears as the topic of Douglas Bullard’s Islay: a novel, an item of Deaf Literature fitting the utopian genre. Longing for a place where Sign Language usage is widespread and Deaf people are granted full accessibility consistently guides narratives emerging from Deaf communities. The notion of a Deaf city, state or country appears in Deaf poems, prose, and films, having become the topic of an interdisciplinary doctoral research, drawing from Culture Studies, Utopian Studies and Deaf Studies, and aiming at defining the innovative concept of Deaftopia.
- Conviviality and collective forms of cultural unawareness in Sun Kim’s artworkPublication . Gil, Cristinafrom illustration to performance and is mainly focused on the decolonization of sound. Although Sun Kim works have undoubtfully impacted both Deaf and hearing audiences, part of the artwork is often located at the cultural crossroads between both communities. Thus, possibly resulting in different interpretations, as the accessibility to the content creates significant blind spots. Sun Kim’s artwork questions the ownership of sound and sonic cultural boundaries. In Lautplan or Nap Disturbance we explore the topic of sound etiquette and the cultural connotation of sounds which is part of both hearing and Deaf people’s lives, although acquired from distinct standpoints, implying a distinct sonic identity. In English vs Deaf English, the artist exposes two lists of words that enable distinct considerations, with the exception of the bicultural and bilingual audiences. Likewise, in To Point a Naked Finger by Sun Kim and Thomas Mader, a piece which explores the non-manual markers and classifiers that are phonological parameters of sign languages. As the human brain attempts to find possible interpretations, we aim to unravel how Sun Kim’s bicultural artistic repertoire pushes the boundaries of conviviality between the two communities.
- Deaf Way nos estudos culturais: a bandeira surda da diversidadePublication . Gil, Cristina; Pereira, Joana MoredoEste artigo aborda conceitos essenciais em Estudos Surdos ainda pouco disseminados em Portugal. Descreve o discurso dos membros das Comunidades Surdas ocidentais enquanto minorias linguísticas culturais e explicita os conteúdos dessa concepção1 sobre o indivíduo Surdo. Referimos ainda a questão da Identidade Surda, tais como categorizações e processos apresentados na literatura especializada. Concluímos frisando a importância de se dar atenção aos discursos internos das Comunidades Surdas, e debatendo a perspectivação do traço ser Surdo como uma realidade médica ou étnica.
- Deaf way nos estudos culturais: a bandeira surda da diversidadePublication . Gil, Cristina; Pereira, JoanaEste trabalho pretende divulgar à Comunidade Surda Portuguesa as recentes produções em Estudos de Cultura feitas sobre Surdos em Portugal. O nosso objetivo é propôr uma reflexão sobre a Cultura Surda e a importância de a sabermos explanar de uma forma simples ao outro, tomando consciência do poder que esta definição cultural detém num Portugal que, embora tendo já percorrido um longo e árduo caminho, ainda percepciona os Surdos como portadores de deficiência e não como estandartes de diversidade. Por outro lado, abordamos também a questão da diversidade de Identidades Surdas, fenómeno que abrange todos os Surdos e que depende da sua experiência e fidelidade linguística e cultural. O rótulo de portador de deficiência auditiva centra-se na perda auditiva, na falta, no distanciamento da norma, e tem as suas raízes na concepção médica do Surdo. O epíteto de povo Surdo foca-se na mais-valia que é ser-se Surdo em qualquer sociedade humana. Aqui, ser Surdo é ser-se excepcional, é ser um orgulhoso representante de uma minoria cultural, é empunhar a LGP e gritar ao mundo ouvinte: Estamos aqui, esta é a nossa língua, a nossa arte e literatura! Garantam os nossos direitos e absorvam o que temos para vos ensinar. É na esfera do povo Surdo que este artigo vive. Lutamos todos os dias, Surdos e ouvintes , contra outros rótulos que não definam a riqueza da diversidade cultural. Lutamos em pessoa, e lutamos por escrito.
- Deaftopia: utopian representations and community dreams by sign language peoplesPublication . Gil, CristinaDeaftopia conceptualizes utopian and dystopian manifestations of Sign Language Peoples, drawing from Deaf-led cultural productions. These cultural objects contain narratives and discourses that stem from diverse sources, including Deaf artwork and films, Deaf literature and visuature, Deaf-led activist demonstrations, and even political efforts for sign language recognition. Many perspectives are possible within Deaftopia. The utopian discourse enables us to get a glimpse of an improved societal scaffold, where sign language and Deaf culture thrives, while dystopian counter narratives and discourses of resistance forewarn us about the threats and dangers to Sign Language Peoples and their cultural legacy. This essay outlines findings from my doctoral research, with the aim not only to bring forth knowledge of Deaf culture, but also to contribute to its preservation. This is the role of Deaftopia for Sign Language Peoples.
- Deaftopia: utopian representations and community dreams by the deafPublication . Gil, CristinaPoster written in English, Presentation in International Sign Language
- Editorial: deaf culturePublication . Gil, Cristina; Gertz, Genie; Pereira, Joana; Humphries, Tom
- The imaginaries of replacementPublication . Gil, CristinaReplacement is a noun that describes the act of replacing, originally from the verb “replace” and derives from the noun or verb “place”. Etymologically, the word “place” has its origin in the Greek “plateia hodos” which means “broad” when applied to a way and from the Latin “platea” meaning “open space”. The latter was also the origin of the word “plateia” in Portuguese which means audience. These etymological origins become interesting as these places are spaces that need audiences. This means the spaces need people to acknowledge their existence. Also, places are spaces that are representational of a culture. Which leads us to question: what can imaginary spaces reveal us about culture? Therefore, this essay aims to cross several works on the importance of the imaginary places, namely Benedict Anderson’s imagined communities, Nelson Goodman’s ways of worldmaking, Marie-Laure Ryan’s possible worlds theory, Ruth Levinas’ literary utopias as well as other relevant utopian studies contributions. We receive knowledge about these imagined worlds through narratives, that can be transmitted through many media and in diverse styles, but the narrative component is a transversal element to communicate these ideal worlds. Thus, for the argument to sustain, the inclusion of Jerome Bruner’s theory on the narrative construction of reality is pivotal. What are these imagined places? Are the spaces we create in fictional narratives the embodiment of our wishes for another world, aiming for replacement? These are some of the questions that can contribute to understand how utopias and alternative imaginary worlds are a significant part of our human cultural narratives