Deafening music: Transcending sound in musicking.

Abstract

Recently, the popularity of YouTube has raised a generation of people using the online format to produce and distribute videos of spoken language songs translated into sign and signed artistic products some classify as music. The popularity of translated songs and signed music has generated debate on social media and in professional association meetings among deaf people. Concerns are raised about the cultural appropriation of sign language and deaf culture. Some question the success of nondeaf people in monetizing signed music while deaf people continue to encounter socioeconomic barriers. Teachers recognize both the benefits and drawbacks of working with signed music in teaching sign language. Music has emerged as a contested site of culture, language, identity, and belonging.