Lose Yourself, Win the Internet

May 29, 2015 6:16 AM

We've seen good ASL versions of Eminem before, but this one from Shelby Mitchusson takes it to another level. (SLASLYT)
posted by ericbop (14 comments total)

OMG I'm addicted to these. ASL is so freakin' expressive and fun to watch in this context!!!
posted by Mooseli at 7:24 AM on May 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

Clicked. Said the video is not available
posted by CrazyLemonade at 7:24 AM on May 29, 2015

Sensational.
posted by h00py at 7:38 AM on May 29, 2015

Can anyone with more ASL or Black ASL experience/knowledge comment on whether or not she makes use of any Black ASL features in this? There's certainly a lot of mouthing, but what about 2 vs. 1 handed signs, size of signing space, etc.?
posted by damayanti at 8:06 AM on May 29, 2015

It's interesting to put that video on mute and watch it as a deaf person would. I think she conveys the inspirational mood of the Eminem superbly. Similarly, watch this ASL Anaconda translation on mute and it conveys the mood of that song perfectly as well.
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:43 AM on May 29, 2015 [2 favorites]

Amber Galloway Gallego is the bomb: Rap God.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:00 AM on May 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

It's interesting to put that video on mute and watch it as a deaf person would. I think she conveys the inspirational mood of the Eminem superbly.

I invite people to school me. Among the few deaf people I've gotten to know in my life, I've noticed a pretty strong tendency to identify with hip hop. I assumed that had to do with being able to feel the strong bass beats. I had one friend in particular who'd put on rap music and then hold her hand over the speakers.

And, I guess, that there's more complexity in the lyrics than in most other types of music would probably help too.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:52 AM on May 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

I also kind of love this clip of the same interpreter working at a Christian concert. The way that she keeps signing to the beat during the little mini-sermon in the middle of the song is really cool.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:06 AM on May 29, 2015

Whoops, apologies for the double Rap God linkage.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 12:08 PM on May 29, 2015

She explains a bit more about her work in an hour-long presentation on "Body Language - The Art of Interpreting Live Performances Into ASL" held together with her colleagues at Visual Voice Interpreting, an ASL interpreting agency in Austin. (She appears, signing some Edward Albee, at around 20:10. Ironically, the video's sound is totally out of sync, so it's an effort for the hearing to follow.)
posted by progosk at 2:34 PM on May 29, 2015

(They also talk about their reaction to that infamous fake SL interpreter...)
posted by progosk at 2:39 PM on May 29, 2015

I assume that people who rely on ASL aren't bothered when the interpreter is bouncing around like that? I mean, if I were relying on interpretation of hand gestures to understand the content, and the person with the hands is bouncing up and down and moving their hands from the center of the image, to me it's like someone were holding cue cards and then shaking them all around as I'm trying to read....
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 2:20 PM on May 30, 2015

Body language is an integral part of sign language. It's not just reading.
posted by h00py at 7:58 AM on May 31, 2015

I don't know ASL but that made me tear up. If we was actually able to convey even some if not all of the intricacies I would be astonished.

Can someone help this ignoramus? Is she just telling the story or do the stylistic complexities come across too?
posted by raider at 3:23 PM on June 7, 2015