DEAF CULTURE 2 MOD. 2

The course is part of the common curriculum of the Bachelor's Degree in Languages, Civilizations, and Language Sciences and aims to introduce students to the study of LIS literature through the analysis of texts that best represent the literary and artistic production of the Italian Deaf Community.
The course seeks to provide the foundations for a conscious and critical approach to the study of LIS literature, including comparisons with literary texts in spoken languages and other sign languages.
Overall, the goal is to introduce students to the analysis and interpretation of literary texts using appropriate terminology, methods, and critical tools.

1. Knowledge and understanding
Understand the characteristics of literary and artistic genres that include LIS.
Comprehend the selection of LIS literary texts presented during the course.
Recognize the socio-cultural context in which the studied LIS literary texts were produced.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding
Analyze LIS literary texts using critical and methodological tools.
Apply analytical methodologies to LIS literary texts to understand the context and culture that produced them.

3. Making judgements:
Reflect independently on genres, authors, themes, and texts discussed in the course.
Identify explicit and implicit references to Deaf culture in LIS literary texts and relate them to their broader context.

4. Communication skills:
Write a critical analysis of an LIS literary text using appropriate methodology and terminology.
Present and discuss one's analytical work with proper terminology and structured argumentation.
Engage critically and respectfully with peers and the instructor.

5. Learning skills:
Summarize and discuss LIS literary texts, creating logical connections with the culture that produced them.
Take notes.
Critically consult reference texts and their bibliographies.

The student is required to have passed the exam of Deaf Culture 1 and Deaf Culture 2 module 1.
The student is required to have at least an intermediate proficiency in LIS.

The following topics will be discussed:
- Introduction to LIS Literature
- Key linguistic elements for the study of LIS Literature: Iconicity, classifiers, role-shift
- Literary genres in sign languages
- Analysis of literary and artistic productions of the Deaf Community: Mime, Storytelling, Poetry, Visual Vernacular and musical VV, Nursery rhymes and signed wordplay (ABC stories, number stories, single-handshape stories), Theater (including Cabaret), Cinema, Song performance (percussion signing, rap, etc.)
- Literary translation into LIS and song translation into LIS

- Bertone, C. (2023). La poetica del silenzio. Milan: Franco Angeli Editore.
- Russo Cardona, T., Volterra, V. (Eds.). (2007). Le lingue dei segni. Storia e Semiotica. Rome: Carocci → Chapter 5.
- Zaghetto, A. (Ed.). (2013). Nuove prospettive sulla produzione artistica in Lingua dei Segni Italiana (LIS). Perugia: Guerra Edizioni.

Additional course materials (lecture notes and supplementary readings) will be available in digital format on the course's Moodle page.

The assessment consists of two parts: 1) written assignment – A critical analysis (maximum 8 pages) of a LIS literary work of the students' choice, completed in pairs. The assignment must include proposed questions and activities to encourage textual analysis; 2) oral examination – A discussion of the written assignment and the literary themes/texts covered during the course.

written and oral

The final grade will be determined based on the following criteria:
- Knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and textbooks: up to 10 points
- Ability to analyze literary texts in LIS using the knowledge and tools developed during the course: up to 10 points
- Communication skills, particularly clarity of expression and command of technical terminology: up to 10 points
Honours (“cum laude”) may be awarded in cases of excellent performance across all evaluated criteria.

The course is delivered in a blended format and is structured as follows:: 10 synchronous face-to-face classes and 5 asynchronous online classes.
Methods:
- lectures;
- Moodle virtual classroom;
- online activities;
- analysis of literary texts in LIS.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development