Patricia Durr
Associate Professor
Department of Cultural and Creative Studies
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
585-475-6830
Office Location
60-1283
Patricia Durr
Associate Professor
Department of Cultural and Creative Studies
National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Education
BA, Le Moyne College; MS, University of Rochester
Currently Teaching
FNRT-440
Deaf Art & Cinema
3 Credits
Students will examine the context in which specific cultural groups have chosen to create works about their experiences. They will go on to explore a wide range of artistic works representing the Deaf experience in visual arts and cinema. Students will be expected to analyze works in terms of cultural symbols and themes. Attention will be given to historical context (personal and collective) that has helped to shape many of these works, motifs, and messages. Students will write and present in-depth papers examining specific works and artists/filmmakers. In addition, students will be expected to create an original artwork and a collaborative short film.
NHSS-260
Deaf People and Civil Rights
3 Credits
Students will learn the history and achievements of Deaf civil rights, as well as current challenges and future directions of Deaf culture and civil rights. Students will learn the basic history of disenfranchised groups in the United States, how the civil rights process is begun and its ultimate impact on the mainstream society. The course places special emphasis on research and analysis of the Americans with Disabilities Act and involvement in a civil rights project.
NHSS-275
Visual Expression of Deaf Culture
3 Credits
This course introduces students to Deaf Cultural Studies using stories about the Deaf experience. Students will interpret works in visual art, film, performing arts, and literature (ASL and English). Students will learn how historical/social/political and intersectional context, Deaf cultural values, and themes and symbols influence our interpretation of these creative works. Finally, the importance of collective memories for preserving Deaf cultural norms/values and promoting social justice will be addressed.
In the News
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January 17, 2020
![woman signing American Sign Language in front of artwork of a girl sitting alone at a crowd gathers behind her.]()
Memorial Art Gallery showcases Deaf culture with De’VIA exhibit
WROC-TV talks to Patti Durr, associate professor at NTID, and Tabitha Jacques, director of the Dyer Arts Center, about the ehibit “De’VIA: The Manifesto Comes of Age” at the Memorial Art Gallery.
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October 31, 2019
![Poster for performance of People of the Third Eye.]()
RIT/NTID presents ‘People of the Third Eye’ Nov. 8 and Nov. 15-17
People of the Third Eye is a collection of pieces created collaboratively by cast members and includes various genres of ASL performance art and poetry, personal narratives, creative storytelling and dramatic monologues.
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August 6, 2019
![Artwork of colors flowing from hands with text: ARTiculating Deaf Experiences Conference, November 6-9, 2019.]()
RIT/NTID hosts conference on literary and artistic works about deaf experiences, Nov. 6-9
Scholars, students, deaf cultural studies and sign language teachers, artists, playwrights, filmmakers, poets, writers and historians will make their way to NTID in November for an international conference focusing on examining literary and artistic works about deaf experiences.
Select Scholarship
Shows/Exhibits/Installations
Durr, Patti. Nameless. Feb. 2019. Hear Me?, Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia, PA. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. For far too long... 21 Jun. 2019. De\'VIA Pop Up - Warhol Museum, Pittsburg, PA. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. I Know Why the Caged Bird..., Looking Glass Self, rEVOLution, Roots & Wings, Me as Becoming D, Untitled work,. Jul. 2019. Moving Hands: Expressions of Art and Deafness, Whtiman Works Company, Rochester, NY. Exhibit.
Durr, Curators: Tabitha Jacques and Patti. De'VIA: The Manifesto Comes of Age. Nov. 2019. Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, NY. Exhibit.
Jacques, Juror with Rhonda Voight-Campbell and Tabitha. Please Touch exhibit. Nov. 2019. Dyer Arts Center, Rochester, NY. Exhibit.
Durr, P. For Far Too Long. 22 Jun. 2018. 50 Years 50 Artists, Dyer Arts Center, Rochester. Exhibit.
Durr, P. On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. 22 Jun. 2018. 50 Years 50 Artists, Dyer Arts Center, Rochester. Exhibit.
Durr, P. Nameless. Sep. 2018. Artists Undeterred: Boldly Exploring Disability, Pride Center of Staten Island, Staten Island (NYC). Exhibit.
Durr, P. Deaf Greens. 2 Nov. 2018. Cultivating Connections, Dyer Arts Center, Rochester. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. me as small d. 12 Aug. 2015. Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. The Strain of. 12 Aug. 2015. Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. Worry: A Jewish Deaf-Blind Survivor Shares Her Story. 26 Feb. 2012. The Second Hong Kong International Deaf Film Festival City University of Hong Kong, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, Department of Applied Social Studies, Hong Kong. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. EXODUS and WORRY - 2 short documentary films on Deaf Survivors. 1 Apr. 2012. Seattle Deaf Film Festival, Seattle. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. Worry: A Jewish Deaf-Blind Survivor Shares Her Story. 13 Oct. 2012. Irish Deaf Film Festival, Dublin. Exhibit.
Durr, Patti. EXODUS: Deaf Jewish Family Escapes the Holocaust. 14 Oct. 2012. Irish Deaf Film Festival, Dublin. Exhibit.
Published Conference Proceedings
Karen, Christie, and Patricia Durr. "The HeART of Deaf Culture: Visual and Literary Arts of Deafhood." Proceedings of the Deaf Studies Today April 8-12, 2008 Utah Valley University. Ed. Eldredge, Stringham, Fleischer, Morton. Orem, Utah: n.p., 2015. Print.
Durr, Patricia. "Visual Histories: Recording, Preserving and Disseminating and Analyzing Deaf Stories." Proceedings of the Deaf Studies Today April 8-12, 2008 Utah Valley University. Ed. Eldredge, Stringham, Fleischer, Morton. Orem, UT: n.p., 2015. Print.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Durr, Patti. "Stand and Be Counted." Deaf Studies Today: Beyond Talk. Utah Valley University. Orem, UT. 12 Apr. 2012. Keynote Speech.
Durr, Patti. "Deaf Cinema Night - Classics & Contemporary Films." NYDT 2012 Showcase Series. New York Deaf Theatre (NYDT). New York, NY. 18 May 2012. Guest Lecture.
Full Length Book
Christie, Karen and Patti Durr. DVD Book - HeART of Deaf Culture: Literary & Artistic Expressions of Deafhood. 1st ed. Rochester, NY: RIT, 2012. Print.