Silent World of Barry Priori, The (ATOM Study Guide)

The Silent World of Barry Priori is insightful, funny and at times heartbreaking. Barry takes us on a journey that holds many surprises and revelations into the Deaf world from the 1950s to the present day. Self-authored by Barry Priori, an engaging, charismatic character and highly amusing storyteller, this is an essay-style film using a combination of interviews, observational footage and rare unseen archival material. Here we garner many intimate insights into a community steeped in Deaf pride, culture and its own unique language.

Within the documentary, Barry and close friends Deane, Katrina and Donovan recount the difficulties of growing up and being educated as profoundly deaf children in the hearing world of the 1950s and 1960s. Their lives as teenagers and adults were profoundly changed by the shift from oralism to the increasing acceptance and teaching of Auslan. Barry, Katrina and Donovan went on to become successful ground-breaking leaders and mentors in the teaching and promotion of Auslan in both the Deaf and hearing communities.

The Silent World of Barry Priori aims to demystify what it is to be deaf and presents the world of the Deaf community. Barry allows us to celebrate their culture and gain an understanding of the extent of Deaf communities throughout the world. The Silent World of Barry Priori makes visible the world of the Deaf to the larger community in a documentary that is uplifting, heartfelt and humorous.

Curriculum Links:

The Silent World of Barry Priori can be linked to the following subject areas within the Australian Curriculum:

• Auslan
• Health and Physical Education
• Media Arts
• The General Capabilities of ‘Ethical Understanding’ and ‘Personal and Social Capability’

The Silent World may also be used as a supplementary text for relevant Senior School subject areas, including:

• English
• Health and Human Development
• Media Arts
• Physical Education
• Psychology