2/18 Reading Response: Cultural Studies and Composition

While reading today’s assignment, I noted striking language, “Emphasis on the multicultural…implications of race class and gender...Cultural studies has infiltrated composition studies…represents a more deliberate use of popular culture.” All these short phrases are profound because they attempt to explain the impact of culture on teaching and writing. Cultural studies in composition are the core concepts of what Thiong’o mentions in one of his books, Moving the Centre. The backlash is unwarranted for several reasons. First, we live in a multicultural society, and the literature of one culture is not innately sublime to other cultures – although oftentimes our history has ignored that fact. Cultural studies are representative of the interconnectedness and intersectionality of American literature, art, and culture, specifically popular culture. The kids should be required to learn the established canon as well as the latest exhibition on Post Secret as well as African novels. If anything, it will help our students to be well-rounded and more grounded in the community at large. I had an opportunity to see popular culture in the classroom on yesterday. The students were engaged, and, more importantly, they were learning. For me, it is the most important – the ability to learn, make connections, and have discourse.