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ASL 123 - "Children of a Lesser God" - Play script and Feature Film

Goals for the reading assignment:

1. To continue exploring Deaf culture and the Deaf community.
2. To examine one’s own perspectives of deafness and deaf people and to compare them with the views of the author and with your classmates.

Assignment:  Respond to the following questions. Keep your response concise and to the point.

a) Play Script Question:
This book looks at the opposing views of deafness:  Oral vs.sign, ASL vs. SEE, disability vs. culture, equality vs. oppression. The author was writing this play about 25 years ago (late 1970's).  Using all the information and experiences you have gathered this year, which issues in this play do you feel are still relevant today, and which issues do you feel are now outdated?  Give reasons and justifications for your responses.

Two page maximum.

b) Movie Question:
Mark Medoff's play premiered in 1980.  It won several Tony Awards including Best Play of the Year.  The Deaf community thought very highly of the play.  The movie version was released in 1986.  It also received good reviews and Marlee Matlin was awarded an Academy Award for best actress.  The Deaf community was very disappointed in the movie and particularly upset with Marlee Matlin's acceptance speech  at the Academy Awards (she voiced and did not sign).

Question:  Based on what you have learned about Deaf culture and the Deaf community, why do you think the Deaf community was so upset by the movie?

One page maximum.

Due Date:   Wednesday, May 20th