I think its interesting how Cynthia Selfe discusses an idea of a "third wave" of literature studies. Not only are personal narratives important for personal revelation, but they also reveal the culture, knowledge, and changes in someone's life.
Digital compilation of language narratives is fascinating. The internet allows us all to connect at anytime and anywhere. The Digital Archives of Literacy Narratives (DALN) provides a way that teachers as well as researchers can find primary information on how people with different backgrounds learned to write and read. In each narrative, factors such as present situations, and the values or influences that mold their language learning are explained. Not only does this provide insight to minority experiences, but also people who just have a hard time. Often, teachers overlook students because they simply can't keep up, but they don't want to hold them back, so the student is passed on until either someone finally realizes the issue or, nothing. With my parents being teachers, my mom an elementary and dad secondary, I've heard some of the issues that come up. And frankly, they just don't know how to approach the issue. But with personal narratives explaining some of the problems that students or immigrants have faced, perhaps some of these issues can be solved through other people's experience.
The ideas of identity formation and transformation are well supported by examples of narratives. And I agree with her assumptions. After writing a memoir in a composition class, I found out that some of the traumatic experiences in my past were still lingering. Though I cannot fix this problem immediately, I was able to reflect on how I thought the experience changed my life and how, in some ways, made me a better person. I know a memoir is a bit different than a personal narrative, but the concept is still there. And the transformation was reflected in my choosing of what details I wanted my audience to know. So in ways, I ignored some of my characteristics of my own personality.
Thus, from personal experience I believe Selfe's ideas to be factual and fairly interesting, in learning our own identities and transformations.
Wow! Great post! I think you did a great job bringing out all of the important parts of the article, and you also added some great personal stories that help bring some of its concepts together. The story of your parents and how they experienced first-hand some of the difficulties that individuals face in learning environments. And your story about writing a memoir and how doing so gave you a chance to better yourself.
ReplyDeleteIt is true what you stated, "Selfe's ideas to be factual and fairly interesting, in learning our own identities and transformations." I believe this article shined a new light on the purposes of those painful writing assignments like a memoir or narrative. I now understand that they can be helpful in teaching us how individuals develop in their different social settings.
The Digital Archives of Literacy Narratives is a great idea. It is a database model that should be copied for another important data. These online databases are powerful ways to give people access to insightful information (primary sources) when trying to find solutions to problems.
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not, I am thrilled to know that the memoir your wrote in one of your classes allowed you to confront and translate a past experience (however traumatic) into something beautiful (your personal memoir/composition). I sincerely believe in the start of a liberation of some sort; the fact that you started talking AND writing about it suggests that keeping things all inside no longer works for you. Our acquired literacy, according to Selfe, has the capacity to allow us to acknowledge our own stories, our own perceptions, our own decisions. The DALN project might refer to a more academic context, but promises to encourage those who might feel 'disconnected' ... literacy-wise. ;)
Love reading your blog this week. Thanks for sharing!
Dr. B