Critical Pedagogy

[genoveva]

I'm doing some research on Critical Pedagogy and would like recommendations for pieces of literature that are good examples of issues such as:

race
ethnicity
gender
class
culture
(multiculturalism)
social justice
(political, socio/cultural awareness)
equity
(power, gender, voice)
equality

I'm mainly looking for literature, but would also take some music (with lyrics) and film recommendations.

Thanks for any feedback!

[Isagel]

I would suggest Orlando, by Virginia Woolf. There is a discussion about it in the Book club. Of course, it depends on what you are looking for. A critical review of Uncle Tom in terms of power, gender, class and equality could be interesting. Do you want a book that is an example of critical thinking or something that is easy to pinpoint issues in when looking at it critically?

[genoveva]

Do you want a book that is an example of critical thinking or something that is easy to pinpoint issues in when looking at it critically?

Both!
I'm appreciative of all feedback, thanks!

[Pensive]

The post was not related to the thread.

[Nightshade]

I have somthing a bit odd but thats me for you,
try the Secret garden, in the chapter Martha I think, theres quite alot of things about class, you have the thing where if marath had benn a proper ladies maid she would have know it was her place to pick up after MAry but she is only a common kitchen girl from the moor. Then you have the bit about natives, blacks Pigs and daughters of pigs, ignorance etc.
:D

[Whifflingpin]

I was not aware of the term "critical pedagogy" so I used Google and found this definition: "Critical pedagogy takes as a central concern the issue of power in the teaching and learning context. It focuses on how and in whose interests knowledge is produced and 'passed on' and view the ideal aims of education as emancipatory."

So "Lies my Teacher Told Me" by Loewen, apart from being a very readable and interesting book, might be a description of history teaching from a critically pedagogic standpoint. Loewen uses the contrast between "Uncle Tom" and "Gone with the Wind" for illustration, amongst other things.

How about Lady C's Lover, not just that Lady C has an affair with the gamekeeper, but also that this gamekeeper had been an officer in the Guards - so the class system is actually re-inforced not confronted.

How about, for music (sic) the "Star Spangled Banner?"

Oroonoco, by Aphra Benn.

Does anyone read Chandler Harris's "Uncle Remus" anymore? - great literature, and whether the answer be yes or no, a pudding full of issue plums.

"Giles Goat-Boy" by John Barth - that's got to be the "Revelations" of C20th literature - you can make it illustrate anything you want, and get any answer you like from it.

.

[PeterL]

You might want to look the Enuma Elish. It looked at all of those issues before any other literature did.

[Virgil]

I think Ralph Ellison's Invisble Man might satisfy your requirements on race.

BTW, what kind of an assignment is this? It seems like it has a political agenda.

[TodHackett]

Some titles you may not have, and may not get from other people, b/c some of these are a bit obscure:

-Anything by Sherman Alexie, esp. _Indian Killer_ or _The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight in Heaven_
-Jamaica Kincaid, _A Small Place_
-John Okada, _No No Boy_
-_Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions_ (by Lame Deer, I think)
-_These Were the Sioux_ (by Sandoz???)
-Hirsch, _Cultural Literacy_
-Kozol, _Savage Inequalities_
-Postman, _The End of Education_
-Kesey, _One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest_
-Giovanni, _Black Talk, Black Feeling, Black Judgment_

I could give more but I won't. If you'd like more suggestions, let me know...

[Whifflingpin]

"BTW, what kind of an assignment is this? It seems like it has a political agenda."


"The primary preoccupation of Critical Pedagogy is with social injustice and how to transform inequitable, undemocratic, or oppressive institutions and social relations. ... "
quoted in the site http://www.csd.uwa.edu.au/altmodes/to_delivery/critical_pedagogy.html from which the definition above was taken.

Critical Pedagogy appears to have a political agenda.

[genoveva]

Critical Pedagogy appears to have a political agenda.

Yes, I suppose it would be correct to say that it does have a political agenda- one whose purpose is to expose inequalities and inequities. Usually when I hear the phrase "political agenda" I cringe, but....

As I understand it, Critical Pedagogy seeks to examine what is "taught" that may or may not be explicit.

[genoveva]

I could give more but I won't. If you'd like more suggestions, let me know...

Thanks so much, yes~ I would like even more suggestions! Thanks.
The Kozol and Hirsch are non-ficition I assume?

[Nightshade]

ha I knew I should have looked it up ah well making a fool of myself isnt somthing new :blush:

[genoveva]

You might want to look the Enuma Elish. It looked at all of those issues before any other literature did.

Thanks, that is an unfamiliar name, I will check into it.

[genoveva]

So "Lies my Teacher Told Me" by Loewen, apart from being a very readable and interesting book, might be a description of history teaching from a critically pedagogic standpoint.

How about, for music (sic) the "Star Spangled Banner?"

Oroonoco, by Aphra Benn.

Does anyone read Chandler Harris's "Uncle Remus" anymore? - great literature, and whether the answer be yes or no, a pudding full of issue plums.

"Giles Goat-Boy" by John Barth - that's got to be the "Revelations" of C20th literature - you can make it illustrate anything you want, and get any answer you like from it.

.

Thanks, these are some things I had not considered. And thanks for reminding me about Loewen's book- I pulled it out of my book case! I had purchased it a few months ago and have not had a chance look through it yet. So many books, so little time...

[genoveva]

I would suggest Orlando, by Virginia Woolf. There is a discussion about it in the Book club.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have not read any Woolf (!). I tried to find the discussion- is it in the book club in this forum? I could not find it. This forum is so large...

[Countess]

Read anything and everything by Oscar Wilde. Oh, and Mark Twain and The Great Gatsby.

Music: Bob Dylan and The Smiths / Morrissey, U2.

Films: Brokeback Mountain; Transamerica

That should fill your gender-bender quotient.

[genoveva]

BTW, what kind of an assignment is this?

*gasp!* I feel so exposed! :goof:
I'm putting together some curriculum for a "Critical Pedagogy and Literature" course for high school students. :eek2:

[TodHackett]

I just remembered--

_Diamond Age_, by Neal Stephenson.

[genoveva]

Films: Brokeback Mountain; Transamerica


Interesting, I've never heard of them I'll have to see if I can rent them...
Although I haven't put too much thought into film, I had considered comparing and contrasting The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz!

[TodHackett]

Another film (also a book)--

_The Power of One_

[Countess]

RE: Orlando by Virginia Woolf.

Just be prepared to wade through or skip several paragraphs that describe the external landscape (yawn...) . That story could be consolidated into 1-2 pages and be better for it.

But I read it because I've a crush on Orlando Bloom and heard about it. People were saying Orlando was really a woman...but that's not true. Magic happens!

RE: Brokeback Mountain, Transamerica

I can understand you not having heard of Transamerica, but you couldn't escape Brokeback Mountain in America if you wanted to - LOL. Even if you never saw the advertisements, the rumors accompanied by the joking - much of which is hysterical - would reach your ears in one form or fashion.

It's called "The Gay Cowboy movie". That is a GREAT oversimplification since it has some of the best character development in a film that I've seen in a long time. Lots of angst and existentialism.

[Scheherazade]

How about To Kill a Mockingbird? It deals with many issues related to racism, age, gender, social equality and class. I think highschool students would like reading it too (I am not sure if they would be interested in some of the books mentioned in the thread earlier).

[TodHackett]

Thanks so much, yes~ I would like even more suggestions! Thanks.
The Kozol and Hirsch are non-ficition I assume?

Yup, K&H are nonfic.

Neil Postman has written a number of books on the subject-- _Education as a Subversive Activity_, _Education as a Conserving Activity_, _Disappearance of Childhood_ (sort of off topic, but relevant), _Amusing Ourselves to Death_, _Building a Bridge to the 18th Century_.

Also, Howard Gardner, _The Unschooled Mind_

Zachary Karabel, _What's College For?_

Can't remember who wrote it, but there's a book called _Wheels in the Head_ that I read in college and liked.

There was a Native American Lit course taught at CMU, where I used to work in the bookstore. I remember a few titles-- _The Road to Rainy Mountain_, _Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee_, _Ceremony_... if I can remember more I'll write them later.

Similarly, for an Asian lit course-- _Monkey Bridge_, _Donald Duk_, _All I Asking For is My Body_, _A Personal Matter_...

Also look into works by Paolo Friere & Cornell West.

One of the professors in the dept. at CMU-- a woman with whom I worked-- has written some books on community literacy. Her name is Linda Flower; her books might be useful for your project.

I'll post more as I think of them...

[TodHackett]

Film: _187_

[genoveva]

How about To Kill a Mockingbird? It deals with many issues related to racism, age, gender, social equality and class. I think highschool students would like reading it too .

Thanks for the suggestion. I will have to re-read that at some point. I am hoping to have a selection of works that wouldn't necessarily be the norm, or commonly used in the classroom. Still, there are some great classics I couldn't ignore.

[genoveva]

Thanks Tod for all the suggestions! I have heard of some (and read excerpts) of the Postman books and I have the Gardner book (love him!). Do you remember what the book "All I asking For is My Body" is about & who the author is? Intriquing title. Also, did you enjoy the "Donald Duk" book? I assume so since you're recommending it...I've just recently heard of it. Thanks again for all the suggestions.