Re: comfort ye, my peepul

Subject: Re: comfort ye, my peepul
From: Will Hochman (hochman@southernct.edu)
Date: Sun Feb 10 2002 - 23:13:27 GMT

Scottie and Jim,

The privilege I have as a writing teacher is working with living
language and writers who are growing. For me, language is dynamic and
so is literature. All you have to do is think about how "netspeak"
(David Crystal's term--see Language and the Internet) has changed our
use of language and ideas about literature. Sure, we select who we
read and deem them the best writers, but the idea of a literary
cannon is too loose a concept these days to mean all that much. Ideas
about talented or elite writers are still very important in print
publishing, but I see changes that make it possible for more voices
to communicate in print and on screen. It's typical of older
generations to put down changes in literacy and resist them by
applying existing power structures. As a matter of coincidence and
fact, I'm teaching the ideas of Paulo Freire in class today. Freire
criticizes the "empty vessel" approach to education (students are
empty until filled with teacher's knowledge) and helps teachers and
students see ways in which learning is collaborative. Freire calls
his approach to education "Problem-solving" because he thinks
teachers and students who learn to perceive knowledge actively and
critically may become conscious of ways to act against the oppression
of knowledge. That's why I think breaking rules is necessary when
writing. Rules are sometimes helpful, though sometimes they are used
oppressively. It depends on the context. Blindly following all rules,
even in something as routine as grammar and punctuation, feeds
existing power structures that I don't routinely support. Further,
liberating thinkers with critical and creative thinking activity, and
attempting to remove or at least question traditional hierarchies is
more than privilege, it's where the fun is, will 

-- 
	Will Hochman

Assistant Professor of English
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent St, New Haven, CT 06515
203 392 5024

http://www.southernct.edu/~hochman/willz.html

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