Changes in the Finnish Deaf Performance Arts Since the 1950s
Temas
Detalles
The purpose of this research was to examine how Finnish Deaf Culture Days have been reflecting changes in the identity of the Finnish sign language community in the period 1956–2006. A qualitative research method was used in this research. The principal material was collected from the sign language community’s mass media and the Finnish deaf magazines Kuurojen Lehti and Kuurojen Viesti. Other material included various minutes and leaflets related to the Deaf Culture Days. These were analyzed through data-driven content analysis. The research used Paddy Ladd’s theory of post-colonialism in Deaf culture and Stuart Hall’s concepts of cultural identity. The research demonstrated that Finnish Deaf Culture Days were going through a process of post- colonialism in which four different periods can be distinguished. On the basis of the research material these periods were named as follows: 1) The reign of Finnish Language (1956–1969), 2) Period of Visualism (1970–1978), 3) Period of “Actual” sign language (1979–1996) and 4) Period of Sign languagehood (1997–). These periods can also be seen as reflecting the post-colonial process of the sign language community as a whole.