Internationally Known Deaf Preforming Artist Peter S. Cook to Deliver Fall 2012 LAS Dean's Lecture

In his book Of Grammatology, French philosopher Jacques Derrida observes that speech has historically been considered the most fully human form of language. As a consequence, non-phonetic forms of communication, such as American Sign Language, have been marginalized.

For storytellers and Deaf Studies scholars, this raises important questions: How can we communicate stories—in all their forms—without speech or text? When we share a story with an audience, which nonverbal methods of storytelling are not only used by both Deaf and hearing storytellers, but also resonate with hearing and hard-of-hearing audiences alike? Just how important is physical, nonverbal performance in storytelling?

Join Dean Deborah H. Holdstein for the Fall 2012 LAS Dean’s Lecture as she welcomes renowned Deaf performing artist Peter S. Cook, who will present his research on how the physicality of storytelling transcends Deaf and hearing storytellers and audiences. Cook will also make a case for redefining traditionally held notions of literature, arguing for the need to incorporate the spatial and kinetic into what constitutes Western literature. A performance follows the lecture.

A Q&A will follow Cook’s lecture and performance, followed by a reception with food and refreshments. Sponsored by the Office of the Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Paul and Nancy Knapp.

When: Thursday, October 25, 2012, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Music Center Concert Hall, 1014 S. Michigan Ave.
Cost: This event has reached capacity and we can only guarantee seating for those who have already RSVP'd. We will accommodate as many additional attendees as we can in our overflow area where the event will be shown via closed-circuit television.