Click on the "comment" button below to leave your blog post. I suggest you type your response first in a word document, and then copy and paste it into the comment box. When using book titles in your post you should set the title off with the underscore key: _El Deafo_ (as the comment box does not recognize italics). If you are signed up to be a discussion leader, your blog post should be at least 500 words of original prose (do not duplicate anything other bloggers have already said here) in which you engage with the text for the week critically AND pose an original discussion question. If you are signed up to be a responder, your post should be 250 words in length and respond to, answer, extend, or disagree with a question or thought from another student's post. Be sure to write your full name and word count at the bottom of your post. The cut-off time for this blog post is Friday, April 1 at midnight (for discussion leaders) and Monday, April 4 at midnight (for responders). NOTE: This is the FINAL blog post opportunity of the semester. If you have missed a discussion leader or a response post sometime during the semester, I suggest you post this week! I will place the names of students who have missed posts in parenthesis as a reminder.Discussion Leaders: Cassi and Jonathan (McKenna and Alison M.)
Responders: Michelle (Gianna, Amanda, and TeAnna)
In Cece Bell’s graphic novel _El Deafo_, color, line and placement have a large impact on how the story is told throughout. An example of this imagery is Cece imagining herself as “El Deafo” and the background of the frame is changed to a comic book type texture and colors. This change of background and color show that she is using her imagination to help her deal with situations throughout her life. Most often this occurs when she is dealing with her hearing disability. CeCe’s uses her El Deafo character to say how she really feels inside, but doesn't feel confident enough to say out loud. Even though what that Cece thinks in her head she accidentally says out loud or actions she imagines accidentally occur in real life, such as her kicking her mom because she was upset about having to go to sign language class. This is an important part of the novel because it allows the reader to understand the shift from real life to what Cece is imagining in her head. This draws the reader in to the novel and allows us to be able to understand the way that cece feels while she interacts with the world around her.Another use of color and line would be the shift from white dialogue bubbles to yellow, jagged ones that show that Cece is using her Phonic ear to listen to her teacher. These changes make it easy for the reader to understand the transition from her thoughts, what she says, and what she hears from her Phonic ear. This color, line, and placement are similar to Gene Luen Yang’s _American Born Chinese_ , but are also very different. Cece Bells Images spill over the edge of the panel at times, unlike American Born Chinese where the images are contained in the panels.
ReplyDeleteThis graphic novel does a fantastic job of portraying what a person with a hearing disability may go through and the struggles that they may face in everyday life, especially as a young child. Before reading this graphic novel I had very little knowledge about these problems. After finishing the novel, I feel that I have learned significantly more. In my opinion, my knowledge gained from this children’s graphic novel says a lot about Bell’s great story telling ability, while still being able to teach the reader about hearing disability, especially in younger children. CeCe is a character that just wants to be treated normally while going through grade school, not wanting to draw unwanted attention to herself. In this way, the story is one that almost every reader can relate too. While at the beginning of the novel she feels self conscious and unsure about how others will treat her because of her disability, she later embraces her “super power” and it helps her to feel more confident while progressing through elementary school.
What other issues may young children with hearing disabilities face while going through school that the novel may not have touched on? What ways can educators and people in the community help kids who are deaf to understand that their differences are positive, and how to embrace being part of deaf culture?
WC:525
In Cece Bell’s novel _ El Deafo _, she describes, through the use of pictures and text, what life is like for someone who has a disability. Within this overall theme of growing up with a disability, Bell also focuses on friendship, fitting in and going to school. Throughout this semester, we as readers have learned these topics are very common within young adult literature.
ReplyDeleteOn page 48, the reader is able to see the theme of friendship displayed. Cece is new to the school and she has felt lonely ever since she left her old home. “But one day, the girl who sits next to me says:” “Hey want some Fritos? My name is Laura, you know, and that’s a prettier name than your name. I think Mrs. Lufton is beautiful. You’re a weird kind of funny. Hey! Let’s be best friends!” “It’s all kind of sudden, so I think about it for a minute or two…” “…and then I say:” “Ok?” (48-49). This passage is an example of how Cece gets treated poorly by her friend Laura, even on their first meeting. This part of the text can also be compared to Margaret’s friendship with Nancy, in Judy Blume’s novel, _ Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. _ Margaret is new, lonely, and looking for a friend, similar to Cece’s situation. Nancy takes Margaret in with open arms, such as including her in with her group of friends. We later find out, Nancy is pretty controlling. This is close to the same relationship Cece and Laura have, because Laura is controlling and always telling Cece what to do. We are able to see how both Margaret and Cece overcome these controlling friends of theirs and how it impacts their life in a more positive way.
Going to school and fitting in are also popular themes within young adult literature. On page 103 of _ El Deafo _, Cece says, “Just like in previous years, our mornings start in the gym. I see Ginny, but I avoid her. I want to sit with kids who don’t know me. Maybe I can pass myself off as a hearing person” (103). Cece simply wants to fit in with everyone else at school. The reader sees this again on page 153, when Cece is about to go back to school after summer break and her crush, Mike Miller, is in her class. Mike has not seen her phonic ear and Cece is scared he is not ever going to like her. Cece wishes she did not have to wear that giant phonic ear, so she is not seen as “different” by her new crush. This theme of fitting in, especially at school, relates to J.K. Rowling’s main character in her novel, _ Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone _. Harry Potter is the protagonist in the novel and all he wants when he first goes off to Hogwarts, is to fit in. Even though Harry is known as famous in the Wizarding world, famous is not how he wishes to be seen. Cece may not be popular in what is portrayed as a “good” way, unlike Harry, but she still wishes to just be “normal.” Harry and Cece are similar in this way.
What other themes do you see displayed in _ El Deafo _? How do these themes relate to other texts we have read this semester?
Word Count: 567
A major theme in Cece Bell’s novel _El Deafo_ is being comfortable in your own skin. This is a theme that is apparent in other novels that we have read throughout the semester.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the novel, Cece doesn’t know that she is different than anyone else. When she first finds out that she is deaf, Cece starts comparing herself to her peers. She starts at a school in her neighborhood that is for kids with hearing disabilities and realizes that there are other people that are like her. When she has to move to another town and start at a public school where all the other children can hear Cece begins to compare herself to the other kids again. Cece creates an alter ego and calls herself El Deafo. El Deafo can defeat any problem, and in this way Cece copes with the problems that she is faced with.
When Cece starts first grade at her new school she is immediately self conscious of her Phonic Ear. When she is waiting for the bus Cece feels like everyone is staring at her when she says “is everyone staring at me? At me?” (47). Cece is not comfortable when she feels like her peers are staring at her. It makes her feel like she is different than everyone else. Fitting in with her peers and feeling comfortable in her own skin is important to Cece as she begins school.
Later in the story Cece feels that she has to change herself to fit in with her friend Laura. She has to conform to Laura’s wishes because she feels as if she does not, she will lose her as a friend. Laura makes Cece match her clothes and gets mad when she does not match exactly. Laura says “you were supposed to wear your pale blue shirt,” (55) when Cece only wears just a blue shirt. Cece does not feel that she will be able to have a solid friendship with anyone because she does not feel confident in her own skin. She lets Laura push her around and boss her around so she won’t leave her behind.
Eventually Cece’s peers find her “super power” of super hearing cool. She realizes that even though she can not hear as well without the help of her Phonic Ear, she does not have to change to make friends. She knows that she should be confident in her own skin.
Another novel that we have read in class that has a similar theme of being comfortable in your own skin is _American Born Chinese_. Jin has to become comfortable being a Chinese American surrounded by White American culture. Jin must overcome his insecurities about himself and his friends. Both he and Cece must overcome obstacles to realize that they do not need to change themselves to fit in.
What issues does the novel portray regarding friendships between young school age girls? How is the importance of good friendships stressed throughout the novel?
McKenna Inglis
Word Count: 505
McKenna,
DeleteI will answer your question, what issues does the novel portray regarding friendships between young school age girls? I agree with your points regarding _El Deafo_ being a novel about inclusion. I found Cece’s trouble with wanting to fit in to be a central theme. Cece’s friendships play an important role in her development as a young girl. One scene in particular demonstrates the issue of inclusion regarding friendships between young school age girls. Cece becomes close friends with Ginny, and is thrilled to get invited to her house for a sleepover. However, when Ginny turns the lights off, Cece thinks to herself “I can tell they’re laughing but what about? I need to see!” (96). Cece cannot lip read with the lights off, so she cannot be included in the gossip. This causes Cece to leave the sleepover because she does not feel included.In fact, Cece begins to wonder if “they are talking about me” (97) because she cannot hear what they are saying. Inclusion is an important part of creating friendships, and Cece is faced with this problem. The issue of not feeling included in a friend group can even be applicable to young girls without disabilities. For example, feeling left out of inside jokes or not knowing the newest gossip can cause this gap in inclusion. _El Deafo_ shows young girls about the problem of inclusion within friendships. Every young person has felt left out at some point among friends, and Cece’s character helps readers to cope with feeling left out, and the importance of choosing the right friends.
Gianna Petan
Word count: 263
Cece Bell’s graphic novel, _El Deafo_, is based on the author’s personal experiences of living life as a deaf person. The novel shows the protagonist’s journey through childhood with a disability, with a focus on her desire to fit in and be accepted by her peers. The use of the graphic novel to illustrate this narrative is significant because it addresses a serious situation in a lighter way so it appeals to people of all ages. There are also many times throughout the novel that having illustrations is beneficial, for example on page 39 we get an “X-ray” view of Cece’s Phonic Ear®. This view allows the reader to see how complicated and intrusive the device actually was to Cece and how it affected her ability to fit in. The use of graphics also shows us when Cece is her superhero alter ego, “El Deafo,” (which is a nickname she gave herself). She goes into this alter ego when she wants to say or do something she's too scared to or knows she shouldn't. One example of “El Deafo” is on page 138, when Cece imagines impressing her crush, Mike Miller. Another reason the graphic style is important is because it very clearly shows the reader when Cece is feeling isolated and alone. A few examples can be found on pages 46-47, when Cece first moves to a new school. She has not made any friends yet, so Bell illustrates this feeling of aloneness by drawing a bubble around her. In what other circumstances in the novel was it useful to have illustrations?
ReplyDelete_El Deafo_ was awarded a Newbery Honor Award in 2015. According to the American Library Association, The John Newbery Award is given annually to “the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” The 2015 winner was Kwame Alexander’s, _The Crossover_. The other 2015 Honor recipient was Jacqueline Woodson’s _Brown Girl Dreaming_ which we read in class. Besides both being Newbery Honor recipients, there are additional similarities between _El Deafo_ and _Brown Girl Dreaming_. Some being that they are both memoirs which means they're based on the author’s life experiences and the protagonist is the author as a child. What are some other similarities between these two novels?
In “A Note From the Author” at the back of the novel, Cece Bell explains how one may become deaf and the variation in levels of deafness from mildly to profoundly deaf. Cece Bell is between severely and moderately deaf. Bell also explains how different deaf people choose to treat or not treat their disability, and how these people choose to carry out their lives in society. The graphic novel itself as well as the author’s note shed a new light on what it’s like to be deaf and helped educate on specific details of deafness. This novel is useful to people of all ages in educating them on this topic. What were some other things you learned about deafness from this novel? Do you think this novel could be taught to people of all ages or only certain age groups?
Alison Marek
Word Count: 515
In Cece Bell’s _El Deafo_, there is a teaching aspect to the novel. As Alison Marek, points out, the author writes about specific details of deafness that many people may not know beforehand. This is one reason why this novel is useful to people of all ages and stages of development. Some examples included in the novel that may be new information to those unfamiliar with hearing impairments include the Phonic Ear and all of the parts (39) and the challenges individuals may face on a daily basis. The main character, Cece has experiences that she dislikes, such as when people talk too loud or too slow, stare at her, sign at her, and even break her hearing aide device. Cece also has anxiety about wearing her Phonic Ear because of the large part that sits on her chest and the visible cords leading to her ears. Although these dislikes may not be the same for other individuals with hearing impairments, they allow the reader to walk in one girl’s shoes, which could increase their understanding of the experiences some may face. These challenges could be less prevalent with an increase in the available education on the subject; especially material that is interesting and appropriate for all ages. Cece Bell has done just this step by writing _El Deafo_. She blends education with the experiences many girls go through while growing up, like making friends, disagreements with parents, and having crushes on boys.
DeleteIn addition to including education on deafness, Bell also chose that the story take place in and around school. Most of the teachers (with the exception of the physical education teacher) included in the novel, are supportive of Cece and portrayed as likable. Cece shows a desire to do well in school and receive good grades. There is a positive outlook on education as the entwicklungsroman (Trites) progresses.
Word Count: 311
In CeCe Bell’s _el Deafo_, CeCe deals with stereotypes of being deaf, feelings of being different and not fitting in, and although much of the book takes place in the school environment most of the education taking place is CeCe learning about herself through her experiences and the relationships she has with the other kids, CeCe is very much a liminal character as she struggles to discover who she is and how she fits into the world around her. Kids around her, through a lack of knowledge, do not know how to relate to someone who is deaf. They speak very loud, in an exaggerated way that does not help CeCe, it really just makes it more difficult to understand them. Ginny speaks to CeCe this way, CeCe really likes Ginny…except for the way she talks to her and about her to others, using this exaggerated manner. “Ginny sure is nice! But how can I tell her that it’s harder to understand her when she talks so loud and sloooooow?”(65) The kids stare at CeCe and her cords, this makes her uncomfortable. CeCe thinks that when people try to use sign language with her it just draws attention to her and that is something CeCe does not want. When CeCe sits near Bonnie in the gym Bonnie tries to use sign language, on the bottom of page 104 and the top of 105 CeCe imagines Bonnie as a mime, her signing draws attention to CeCe’s deafness, something she is constantly trying to hide or downplay. It is encounters like this throughout the story that explain how she is feeling and how she thinks everyone views her. She creates el deafo to help her deal with these confusing feelings and situations that she encounters. CeCe often feels different and left out because of her deafness, she constantly thinks that people are acting the way they do because of her not being able to hear. When she first meets Martha she thinks that she does not know that she is deaf, because she treats her normally and doesn’t bring up her hearing aids or her not being able to hear. When she finally does realize that Martha knows but doesn’t care, they become the best of friends. CeCe faces all of the normal obstacles of growing up, and also the obstacles of growing up with a disability, she learns from her experiences, and overcomes all of her obstacles learning to deal with her disabilities along the way. Word count:415
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