Of poets and audiences: a case of poetry therapy through Clayton Valli’s ASL poem “Dandelion”

Abstract

American Sign Language (ASL) literature has been pivotal in building emancipation in the Deaf community against disabling ostracisms faced by them. While its performative nature has had a close relation with catharsis of pent-up emotions in the community, its documentation acts as a repository for audiences to go back to them in longevity, and avail its therapeutic effects. This research takes Clayton Valli’s ASL poem performance of "Dandelion" as a case study, and analyzes it against a performance by Anne Marie Kegley. The performances are seen as, and of, performative therapy. It is seen how changes in the performing body, its visual documentation, and reception affect its unfolding over space and time. Finally, the research further questions the autotelic status attributed to poetry, and reads the multiple unaffiliated performances as a result of, and a cause to, consuming poetry as therapy.

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