What is the reader's duty?
I suppose that question sounds out of the blue, but for me it is something I have been trying to consider for awhile. As we moved into the sections of the course dealing with Ethnic and Feminine theories, I began to ask myself--what should I be reading?
Despite our attempts to change, the fact remains that most of the writers I have read in my fifteen, sixteen odd years of schooling have been white males. Their perspective has been promoted and privileged, and I would think that you would be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn't consider this unfair or wrong in some way.
In class we discussed Ngugi's idea of abolishing English Departments and replacing them with Departments that focus more on the study of language and literature, with the literature of the department's native culture serving as the primary focus of study. We affirm this, because we recognize that his culture has been oppressed by colonization, and this oppression should be lifted.
At the same time that we affirm Africans for wanting to focus on African literature, we chastise Americans for wanting to focus on American literature. Specifically, we look unfavorably upon Caucasian Americans for studying primarily Caucasian (American and British) literature.
If studying your own culture's literature is wrong in some cases but admirable in others, it begs the question: why? Obviously, we would say, because Caucasians have long since dominated the literary scene, and ought to open themselves to the discourse of those Other than themselves, whereas those groups that Caucasians have oppressed ought to have the chance to affirm their own writing.
As I've said, I would not necessarily disagree with this, I would, however, question the validity in being ethnocentric in any way, to any degree. I wonder whether it wouldn't be better for all Language and Literature Departments to try and study the fullest, most balanced variety of perspectives possible. Shouldn't it be the duty of all readers to respect and acknowledge diverse views by reading writers of African, Asian, European, Hispanic, female, male, heterosexual, homosexual, etc, etc backgrounds?
Perhaps that is too idealistic--but is such optimism wrong?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Storytelling in the Internet Age
In addition to taking Literary Criticism this semester, I've also been taking a course on science and technology, focusing specifically on psychological science and technology. In that class we've had many chances to consider the benefits and dangers of the technologies which are cherished fixtures in our everyday lives. As my generation has watched the Internet grow and progress by leaps and bounds, and since it is probably one of the most popular and controversial technologies for my generation, it has been on of the biggest sources of discussion for the class.
One question we have focused on in particular is whether the Internet brings people together or whether it instead isolates us. In my Sci/Tech class we examined aspects such as email, instant messenger, Facebook and MySpace, Skype, etc. However, one aspect we did not spend much (if any) time on, but which I feel relates to the issue of isolation, is the ability we have to "publish" works on the Internet, or to upload works previously published in print to the Internet.
Walter Benjamin believed that works in print isolated both the writer and the reader, especially in comparison to the socially engaging storyteller who relayed personal tales to a physical audience. If Benjamin was critical of printed books for isolating readers and writers, I wonder what he would have to say about the Internet.
On one hand, I can see Benjamin criticizing the Internet as being an isolating force. What is relational about sitting in front of a screen? What is relational about reading about your friend's semester abroad on Facebook rather than sitting together with them and hearing their story in person?
On the other hand, I would suggest that in some ways the Internet is reviving Benjamin's notion of a storyteller--to an extent. According to Benjamin a storyteller relates their own experiences to others and provides some sort of counsel. I would submit that this is done, to some extent, by some people, in blogs. My cousin, for instance, maintains a blog where she faithfully records stories from her life and the life of her family, creatively recording them so that her relatives (many of whom are scattered around the globe) can keep up to date on her life. Since she is relating personal experiences, her reports will inevitably contain counsel based on her experiences.
I wonder what Benjamin would think of this form of storytelling. Would he reject it based on its tendency to isolate, or would he appreciate the return of personal storytelling?
One question we have focused on in particular is whether the Internet brings people together or whether it instead isolates us. In my Sci/Tech class we examined aspects such as email, instant messenger, Facebook and MySpace, Skype, etc. However, one aspect we did not spend much (if any) time on, but which I feel relates to the issue of isolation, is the ability we have to "publish" works on the Internet, or to upload works previously published in print to the Internet.
Walter Benjamin believed that works in print isolated both the writer and the reader, especially in comparison to the socially engaging storyteller who relayed personal tales to a physical audience. If Benjamin was critical of printed books for isolating readers and writers, I wonder what he would have to say about the Internet.
On one hand, I can see Benjamin criticizing the Internet as being an isolating force. What is relational about sitting in front of a screen? What is relational about reading about your friend's semester abroad on Facebook rather than sitting together with them and hearing their story in person?
On the other hand, I would suggest that in some ways the Internet is reviving Benjamin's notion of a storyteller--to an extent. According to Benjamin a storyteller relates their own experiences to others and provides some sort of counsel. I would submit that this is done, to some extent, by some people, in blogs. My cousin, for instance, maintains a blog where she faithfully records stories from her life and the life of her family, creatively recording them so that her relatives (many of whom are scattered around the globe) can keep up to date on her life. Since she is relating personal experiences, her reports will inevitably contain counsel based on her experiences.
I wonder what Benjamin would think of this form of storytelling. Would he reject it based on its tendency to isolate, or would he appreciate the return of personal storytelling?
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