#Sign Language in Media

[captaingimpy]

Dissecting Disability Representation in Media: Insights from 'My Left Foot,' 'Echo,' and 'Music Within'

In the realm of cinematic and television media, the portrayal of disabilities often treads a delicate line between realism and dramatization. This intersection is vividly illustrated in productions like “My Left Foot,” the TV show “Echo,” and the film “Music Within.” As someone who is both neurodivergent and living with cerebral palsy, I approach these portrayals with a critical eye, keenly aware…

[that110alto]

I have a personal headcanon that while underwater, SeaWings use mainly ASL to communicate ideas and thoughts and that the bioluminescent flashes are there to give tone, tense, etc.

(I'm new to learning ASL, please forgive any mistakes I made here in the signs)

[bizlybebo]

i can also make any character deaf/hoh. take my hand

[aqours-stims]

"make a stimboard based off your favorite rarepair" fumi shitara x yuuka kirihara 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9 (middle image made with 墓园之土's dressup game on neka)

[hyperref-lex-ia]

Knowing sign for diversity purposes in a superhero media is great and cool but it is also useful. Tired of there being moments where heroes are trying to be quiet and they whisper in media where they make a point to show they know sign.

[scribblemakes]

[ID: A collection of black and white sketches showing everyday objects that are haunted by little creatures. These creatures fill in gaps with black space and white dots for eyes /End ID]

As some of you might’ve seen: I’m no longer posting art on Twitter, so Tumblr is now the only social media I’ll be consistently posting art to. However: I’ll also be posting it to my website and possibly other social media platforms in the future.

I also post monthly sketch pages to my Patreon (April’s is on this post) with early access for Patrons, and I’m hoping to add more things to it soon!

Thanks everyone for your support (your tags mean a lot to me!) and I’ve put more of my thoughts in the tags.

[diathadevil]

Holy shit I'm only 2 episodes in but I'm already crying at Itsuomi signing to Yuki in the anime opening.

[airenyah]

that's it i'm doing it i'm rewatching kieta hatsukoi

[crackinwise]

Can anybody give these old-ass Democrats protest lessons? They're acting like they're still living in pre-2015 politics when the GOP gave a shit and wasn't deranged.

A member gets up and starts shouting: All get up and shout with him.

Don't walk out: MAKE them carry you all out, not shutting up the entire time. I'm serious, go limp, be dead weight.

Putin's Puppet says a provable lie: Everyone chant "LIE" in unison for a solid minute instead of holding pitiful little signs in front of a man who can't read above a 3rd grade level.

Have someone who knows ASL sitting with you, interpreting everything in full view.

If you're gonna hold signs, make them BIG like you're actually trying to do something. Have them in multiple languages.

Make other signs that say clever or cutting things that will make him rage for days. "DOESN'T OLD TRUMP LOOK TIRED?" or "PUPPET PRESIDENT" or "EVERYONE IS FACT-CHECKING THIS SPEECH TRUMP DIDN'T WRITE" or "THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES" or his current tanking approval rating next to a laughing emoji.

Make a stink every day in congress, throw as many bills as you can on the floor even if they go nowhere, look like you're trying.

Have someone, idk maybe someone you actually want to boost for President in 3 gd years, be your voice of opposition in the media, loudly complaining and telling the facts, every single day. Let the people know you're there!

How hard is this? There's probably better suggestions than mine if they actually hired seasoned protestors or behaviorists/psychologists or even the biggest teenage troll they can find on a messageboard.

The Emperor Has No Clothes. So fucking act like it.

[omegaphilosophia]

Decoding Meaning: Comparing the Semiotic Theories of Saussure, Peirce, and Barthes

Semiotics—the study of signs and symbols—has shaped our understanding of language, meaning, and communication across disciplines. At the heart of this field are three foundational thinkers: Ferdinand de Saussure, Charles Sanders Peirce, and Roland Barthes. Each developed a unique framework for understanding how signs function, from Saussure's structural linguistics to Peirce's triadic logic of meaning to Barthes's analysis of cultural myths. This comparison unpacks their key concepts, showing how each theory offers a different lens for interpreting the world of signs around us.

1. Ferdinand de Saussure – Structural Linguistics

Key Concept: The Sign = Signifier + Signified

Signifier: the form of a word or image (e.g., the sound “tree” or the word "tree" on a page)

Signified: the concept it represents (e.g., the idea of a tree)

Arbitrariness: The relationship between signifier and signified is arbitrary (not natural or inherent).

Focus: Synchronic analysis (studying language as a system at a given point in time).

Model: Dyadic (two-part) sign model.

Systemic View: Meaning arises from differences between signs within a system (language is a structure of differences).

Example: "Dog" means what it does not because of an intrinsic connection to the animal, but because it’s not "cat," "log," or "dot."

2. Charles Sanders Peirce – Pragmatic Semiotics

Key Concept: The Sign = Representamen + Object + Interpretant

Representamen: the form the sign takes (like Saussure’s "signifier")

Object: what the sign refers to

Interpretant: the meaning derived in the mind of the interpreter

Focus: Triadic relationship between the three parts.

Types of Signs:

Icon: resembles the object (e.g., a portrait)

Index: directly connected (causal or physical) to the object (e.g., smoke = fire)

Symbol: arbitrary or conventional (e.g., language, traffic lights)

Example: A footprint (index) signifies a human was present, not by convention, but through physical connection.

3. Roland Barthes – Cultural Semiotics / Mythology

Key Concept: Denotation and Connotation; Myth as Secondary Signification

Built on Saussure’s ideas, but expanded them to cultural signs and ideology.

Denotation: literal meaning (first-order sign)

Connotation: cultural or emotional meanings (second-order sign)

Myth: When connotation becomes naturalized and seen as “common sense” (ideological)

Focus: How signs operate in mass media, advertising, fashion, politics, etc.

He shows how signs carry cultural values, often in ways that reinforce dominant ideologies.

Example: A photo of a soldier saluting the flag =

Denotation: a soldier saluting

Connotation: patriotism, honor

Myth: military = moral virtue, national pride (naturalized idea)

[luneemeritus]

Headcanon: Jason Voorhees uses sign language

[brunhielda]

I am a children’s librarian, so forgive me, but I enjoy bragging about how children’s literature has been stepping up and doing better than adult media for literal decades.

This is a newer book but made me so joyfully happy.

First, the representation for these books is amazing. All different kinds of people from all different kinds of cultures, and no member of the “Dagon Masters” is a one off special guest who never shows up again. Once they exist in world they are included on a regular basis. The books emphasize team work, strategy, mental and physical health boundaries, and knowing your and others responsibilities (main character doesn’t do everything). I freaking love this series.

This boy is Rune. He is a deaf little boy with long red hair. He is teamed up with a light dragon that deals in images.

When our heroes meet him, they figure out how to telepathically talk to him through the dragons. THEY STILL LEARN HIS LANGUAGE. They don’t learn it all in one day. They talk about trying to remember things they just learned. But they learn. Because he is a new friend and they want to speak to him in his language is they can. Is there a moment when they need it because the telepathy doesn’t work? Of course- tis an adventure tale and that was obvious set up. The point is, they continue to use what signs they remember even when the “easier” method is available.

Darma is from a South Eastern based culture. He has learned signs from the monks he lives with- they use sign when doing periods of contemplative silence. IT IS NOT THE SAME LANGUAGE RUNE SPEAKS. He is excited to learn a whole new language, and cautions Drake that it will take patience. Drake is a good listener and learner, those are his character traits, so he goes along with this happily and puts in the work.

All three boys play equal roles in solving the mystery and completing their mission, bringing different strengths. Rune’s specialty is puzzles.

Let that sink in.

This is a fantasy world. The author has all the arguments to make it easier for herself. She did not.

Instead, she highlights 3 distinct cultures for one short chapter book, brings up differences in abilities between 3 capable little boys, and has pictures for every sign they learn.

I’m not just saying you all should read more children’s books. You should. They are great and bring joy into your life.

But also- adult fiction media needs to step the fuck up.

this is a niche one but instead of "they would not fuckin say that" it's "they would not fucking use American sign language".

ASL is not the only sign language. two british characters in your fanfiction would not be using ASL. England in fact has its own kind of sign language, BSL, that forms a sign family with many other sign languages around the world.

ASL isn't even the original member of its sign family, it comes from french sign language. do you know sign languages aren't related to spoken languages? that's an important one! it's not a direct 1:1 with people speaking English around the world. people in other countries don't learn ASL just in case they run into an usamerican or Canadian (who do often use it)

i know the entire world is the USA or whatever and sign languages do sometimes borrow from ASL for signs they don't have, but please be aware that there are other sign languages and families in the world that are not in fact ASL.

[stellarcobweb]

i wish i could literally just choose to go mute and never speak to anyone ever again

[captaingimpy]

Companion Piece: Diving Into the Disability Episode of United Shades of America

The disability-focused episode of United Shades of America, which aired on May 20, 2018, dives into the lived realities of people with disabilities in America. Throughout the episode, host W. Kamau Bell meets with individuals across the disability spectrum, explores systemic barriers, and attempts to shed light on an often overlooked group of people. However, while the episode offers some…

[oneofthosecrazycatladies]

Hitler and the Nazi party took over Germany in 53 days. March 1st marks 41 days of the Trump administration. My hope for March is that the list you’re about to read won’t be the in-real-time evidence of America sliding further into autocracy.

Here we go again…

January-February 2025

March 2025:

Trump has made English the official language of the country [x]

Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine [x]

Trump has imposed new tariffs on China and Canada and they have retaliated [x]

Linda McMahon has been confirmed as Secretary of Education [x]

The Department of Education has set up a witch-hunt for DEI in schools [x]

Trump has delayed his tariffs on the auto industry [x]

Trump suspends tariffs on Mexico [x]

ICE is now targeting migrant families who entered the US with their children [x]

Trump is threatening new tariffs on Canada, including 250% tariffs on dairy products [x]

The Department of Homeland Security is performing polygraph tests on employees [x]

Because of cuts to USAID, Afghan women who fled the Taliban might be forced to return [x]

The Department of Health and Human Services is offering all of their employees a $25,000 buyout [x]

Trump says he will double Canadian tariffs on steel and aluminum [x]

Trump administration has rebranded the CBP One app as the CBP Home app for migrants to self-deport [x]

Trump created a strategic crypto reserve [x]

The Department of Education is cutting nearly half its workforce [x]

The Department of Agriculture has cut $1 billion in funding to bring fresh food to schools [x]

The Trump administration is rolling back dozens of environmental protections and regulations [x]

The Senate passed the spending bill that had been passed by the Housw earlier this month [x]

Trump administration has shut down the media organization Voice of America [x]

The US is bombing Houthi targets in Yemen [x]

The EPA has dismissed a case against a chemical plant in Louisiana [x][x]

Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education [x]

Homeland Security is going after foreign-born academics and scholars [x]

Trump says the Small Business Administration will take over the oversight of federal student loans [x]

Trump administration has deported Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador without due process [x]

NOAA is making cuts to weather data collection due to layoffs [x]

Trump stacks military academy boards with MAGA loyalists, including Michael Flynn and Charlie Kirk [x]

Trump tells the Attorney General to sanction lawyers who file lawsuits against his administration [x][x]

The IRS is going to share tax data with ICE to help them track down undocumented immigrants [x]

Trump signs executive order that requires proof of citizenship to vote [x][x]

Supreme Court upholds regulations on ghost guns [x]

An endangered sea turtle is stranded in Wales because of Trump’s funding freeze [x]

Federal appeals court maintains temporary block on Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act for deportations [x]

Trump is imposing 25% tariffs on all automobiles brought into the US [x]

HHS has cut 10,000 employees [x]

A Tufts University graduate student from Turkey has been arrested by ICE agents who wore masks as they grabbed her off the street [x]

This happened in February but I didn’t learn about it until just now — Trump created a White House Faith Office [x][x]

Trump signed an executive order to control the Smithsonian [x][x][x]

Ohio has passed a bill coined the Higher Education Destruction Act by opponents. It bans all DEI from Ohio public universities, bans faculty from going on strike, and eliminates services to veterans and people with disabilities [x]

Trump has pardoned Trevor Milton [x]

Trump won’t rule out a third term [x] (that’s not allowed)

Miscellaneous News:

A federal judge has ruled against another one of Trump’s attempted firings. [x]

Federal workers are fighting back against DOGE cuts [x]

Musk had a closed-door meeting with Republican senators to cement DOGE cuts in law [x]

There was a heated exchange in the House over the misgendering of Sarah McBride [x]

House Republicans block a vote to end Trump’s tariffs [x]

A federal judge has ordered that thousands of federal employees be reinstated [x]

Trump says he wants to use the Justice Department to go after his political enemies [x]

A judge has blocked Trump’s transgender military ban [x]

Elon Musk is spending millions of dollars on a Wisconsin Supreme Court election [x]

Arlington National Cemetery has taken down information about female veterans and veterans of color from their website [x]

The person in charge of defending DOGE cuts is a social media fashion influencer [x]

A chorus of ladies wrote a song for Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) [x]

The UK, Germany, and Nordic countries have all issued travel warnings about traveling to the US [x]

Columbia University has given in to Trump’s demands in order to restore federal funding [x]

Usha Vance and Mike Waltz, along with other US officials are planning to visit Greenland this week [x]

Trump administration accidentally sent secret war plans to the editor of a magazine [x]

Trump defends Mike Waltz who accidentally added a journalist to text chain about secret war plans [x]

The White House is seeking corporate sponsorships for its annual Easter Egg roll [x]

Florida is trying to loosen their child labor laws [x]

Ohio is trying to pass a bill to completely ban all DEI in public universities [x]

Alabama board defunds local library in first action under new book ban law [x]

Utah has banned fluoride in its drinking water [x] (I hope you like tooth decay)

JD Vance says Greenlanders want to join the US [x]

April-May 2025

This post is constantly being updated so if this comes across your dash, check OP’s blog to see the most up-to-date version.

Remember that you have a voice. Remember that Donald Trump and his spineless cronies want you to just give up and accept their control. REMEMBER: NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL INFERIOR WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.

[silverstcness]

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CLOSE TO YOU - OP81 (smau)

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pairings : oscar piastri x f!landosfriend!reader

summary : you and oscar quickly became acquainted with each other, and fans quickly start speculating.

warnings : fluff, mature language, fc: sophia birlem

song reference : close to you, gracie abrams

beth's notes : have i gone over the top with the orange? possibly. do i care? no🙂‍↕️

liked by lando, mclaren & others...

y/username everyone say thank you lando for inviting me to the race!!! (can i have my cat back now pls) 🏎️

tagged - lando, oscarpiastri, mclaren

lando she ate the last cookie btw.

⤷ y/username gtfo.

user352 lando + y/n = best duo

oscarpiastri wore the wrong shade of orange mind you

⤷ y/username you can get gtfo too

user091 OSCAR IN THAT PIC IM PISSING

user365 y/n giving us crumbs🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

⤷ user104 WE WANT MORE

mclaren y/n come back we miss u

⤷ y/username give me landos seat and we'll talk

⤷ lando excuse me?

⤷ oscarpiastri wait can we do that

liked by mclaren, georgerussell63 & others...

oscarpiastri new season going pretty well🤷

tagged - lando, mclaren

y/username you only did well last race cause i was there ❤️

⤷ oscarpiastri next time i'll run you over ❤️

⤷ lando stop flirting with my friends ❤️

user458 WHAT IS LANDO DOING😭😭

mclaren @/lando we need to have a chat.

⤷ lando oscar peer pressured me☹️

user873 i just know they were kicking their feet in the lake.

⤷ user372 PLSSSSS

y/username added to their story!

liked by oscarpiastri, user291 & others...

y/username i don't wanna leave 🥐🪽🧸

user743 who's hand is that miss y/n y/l/n🤨🤨

⤷ y/username your mums🙂

⤷ user183 very original

oscarpiastri wait no come back

⤷ y/username yes sir🫡🫡

⤷ user HELLO???

⤷ lando HELLO???

user waiting (im)patiently for the hard launch😊

mclaren nooo our fav good luck charm come back

⤷ y/username you have other good luck charms?

liamlawson30 don't come back ❤️

⤷ y/username how thoughtful ❤️

liked by y/username, lando & others...

mclaren mclaren on film!🧡

tagged - oscarpiastri, lando

y/username didn't even make it to the dump💔

⤷ lando haha u suck

user823 why is y/n lowk a member of mclaren atp

⤷ user819 y/n = new social media manager??

⤷ user019 @/mclaren

⤷ mclaren 🤷‍♀️🤫

y/username guy in the last slide lowk fine🙂‍↕️

⤷ user108 OKAY Y/N I SEE YOU

⤷ lando i don't like this

⤷ oscarpiastri oh?

user193 i live for y/n and oscar

liked by mclaren, oscarpiastri & others...

y/username congrats @/oscarpiastri! you're okay or wtv🧡

tagged - oscarpiastri

user192 okay so we all agree theyre dating right

⤷ user018 yes

⤷ user108 yes

⤷ user745 yes

⤷ lando yes

⤷ mclaren yes

oscarpiastri you're okay i guess🧡 (i did not sign off on that last pic.)

⤷ y/username does it look like i care.

mclaren our boy🧡🧡

lando PAPAYA ON TOPPPP

⤷ y/username PAPAYA ON TOPPPP

liked by user819, mclaren & others...

y/username did i get the right shade this time?

tagged - oscarpiastri

oscarpiastri my number looks good on you

⤷ user097 MR PIASTRI I BEG UR PARDON?

user812 middle slide is SO oscar

⤷ user727 they're not even hiding it atp😭

mclaren youre a natural

⤷ y/username been waiting for someone to notice🥱

lando who trusted you behind the wheel.

⤷ y/username i'm this close to blocking you.

liked by y/username, user812 & other...

oscarpiastri (waiting got boring)

tagged - y/username

y/username bro.

⤷ oscarpiastri don't bro me.

y/username it ruined my plan.

⤷ oscarpiastri IT??

⤷ lando that was a good one y/n x

⤷ y/username thanks lando x

mclaren she's our new team favourite

⤷ y/username HA

⤷ lando right. it gets to a point.

⤷ oscarpiastri oh.

user817 WE KNEW IT

user812 WE CALLED IT

user012 MY HEART🥹

user846 theyre so cute🧡