BIM literature

Deaf LGBTQ (Malaysia) - 2021


Deaf LGBTQ (Malaysia)

We are Anthony (he/him), Velma (he/him), Banderas (he/him), Eddy (he/him), Riana (she/her), Dino (he/him) and Alex (he/him). All of us are Deaf persons. Each of us has a unique personality. Most of us are not fluent in Malay and English. We communicate in Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) on a daily basis. BIM is just like any languages you know. BIM is not an art, but a language. BIM is a visual language, but not Visual Vernacular. BIM cannot be expressed through writing or speaking, however, BIM can be a translation of any other spoken or written languages or vice versa. BIM or other sign languages have been misunderstood that each sord (sign word) represents each written/spoken word. BIM literature, which includes ABC stories, number stories, classifiers stories, handshapes stories, narratives and BIM poetry, has not been a part of Deaf culture in Malaysia yet. This is our first time attempting to invent a BIM poetry. The process was very interesting. The poetry was written in English first, instead of BIM, based on our personal experience as a Deaf LGBTIQ. The poetry was then translated into BIM and Visual Vernacular, which combines strong movement, iconic BIM sords, with gestures and facial expressions, to articulate the poetry. The poetry was magnified when we blacken everything so that the focus would be on our facial expressions and beautiful hand movements. We hope the focus will enable the audience to sense our music. A film by Deaf LGTIQ (Malaysia) In Partnership with VOICE Global and ASEAN SOGIE Caucus Stay in touch with Anthony Chong https://www.facebook.com/veeyeechong​ https://www.facebook.com/anthonychong Twitter @anthonychong123 Learn more about the Southeast Asia Queer Cultural Festival 2021 https://seaqcf.net/​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fg_9DlrS9E&feature=emb_imp_woyt


Walls (Malaysia) - 2021



'Walls' is a poem film created in Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) by BIM poet, Anthony Chong and translated into English and film by multimedia poet, Sheena Baharudin. 


The film is part of a larger Malaysian sign language poetry translation project called 'The Poet is the Poem' conceived by CTC grant recipient, 2019-2020 Elaine Foster and co-created with Anthony Chong, Ana Jonessy, and Sheena Baharudin. 

The hope is for this work to be a step towards building a body of BIM literature which can be simultaneously used to inspire other BIM poets and storytellers as well as a teaching tool to support the education of the deaf in Malaysia. 

For more information on the poem film, BIM poetry or how to use this film as a teaching tool in your classroom, please get in touch with elaine@mypoetryschool.org. 

You can also follow and connect with the artists in the following places: Instagram @sheenabaharudin @anthonychong123 @anajonessy @mypoetryschool @theloudergirl 

Facebook/Twitter: MY Poetry School YouTube: https://youtu.be/x4zjSU9N8TM
Anthony Facebook: Anthony On The Go (https://www.facebook.com/anthonysperception)



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