Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Thank you, West Chester University! Next: Deaf Jam at CCP, Oct 6, 6pm

We want to send out a big THANK YOU to the Women's Center and other student organizations at West Chester University for having us out to perform last night.  The turn-out was great, and everyone was very kind to us.  It was a wonderful kick-off to our new year of performing!

COMING UP NEXT: DEAF JAM EVENT AT COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA








ITVS Community Cinema and WHYY
in partnership with
Community College of Philadelphia, Greater Philadelphia Cares, and the Neighborhood Interfaith Movement present

Premiere screening of Deaf Jam
A film by Judy Lieff

With a performance by local slam poet Michelle Myers (Yellow Rage) and ASL slam poet Aneta Brodski

Thursday, October 6, 2011
6:30pm-8:30pm (doors open 6:00pm)
Community College of Philadelphia
Bonnell Auditorium
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(Wheelchair accessible venue. )

After the film Michelle Myers, one half of well-known local Asian-American spoken word female duo Yellow Rage and faculty member at CCP, and Aneta Brodski, a youth ASL slam poet featured in Deaf Jam, take the stage to perform poetry and hold a Q&A discussion with the audience on creating space for marginalized stories through poetry.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.


Register Here >>> or call (215) 351-0511 to register over the phone.

Be sure to indicate if you need ASL interpretation for the poetry and discussion when you RSVP. Film is formatted for viewing by both Deaf and hearing audiences.

About the Film

National poetry slams for youth have been gaining momentum but few, if any, deaf teens have ever been included in these contests. In Deaf Jam, a group of New York City deaf teens reveal their passions, frustrations, and senses of humor as they discover American Sign Language poetry -- eventually stepping into the world of the youth poetry slams with their hearing peers.

Deaf Jam chronicles young deaf poets witnessing and participating in these contests for the first time. Performing in ASL, a dramatic visual language, the poets use rhythm, movement, and body language to create a cinematic equivalent to oral poetry. In the film, the poets use sign language and poetry not only to express themselves, but also to raise issues about disability and the future of ASL. Pitted against the journey of the poets and contributing to this bittersweet story is a counter-narrative, which traces the increasing erosion of this indigenous art form in the face of technologies and the educational system "serving" to mainstream the deaf into the hearing world.

Visit the film's website >>>