Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Post on your blog...Insider/Outsider Debate
TE 448ers - please post on your blog (by 6 p.m. Monday) your initial thoughts about the debate over who should be writing diverse children's literature - insiders (those who may belong to certain groups) or outsiders? Think deeply about what you believe and post those thoughts. Don't forget to write this in your blogging schedule at the back of the syllabus. I look forward to reading these before class! CK
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4 comments:
I think that diverse/multicultural literature can be written by both insiders and outsiders. A lot of times an insider may have more accurate information from experience, but an outsider can also gain a lot of the knowledge through research and observation. I think that just because someone is and insider does not mean that they are qualified to write a book. Cheryl talks about being German, which would technically make her an insider if she were to write a book about German culture, but someone who studied the culture may be able to portray a much more accurate view of what it is like to be German than Cheryl, even though she is considered an insider.
That also raises questions as to what is defined as an outsider and an insider...
I think that it is very hard to determine who should write multicultural/diverse literature because there is so much to think about when discussing this topic. I do think that both insiders and outsiders should write about multicutlural/diverse literature. Although, many outsiders get the material wrong about a specific cullture, they may not always be incorrect. I think that outsiders can do a lot of research to make sure that what they are writting about is correct and it is nice to read books from an outsiders perspective. I think it is also a good thing for insiders to write literature because we must know that perspective from the inside view. I think that outsiders may have just as much correct information as insiders do and the material that they write is just as correct. I do not think that there should be a rule about who writes multicultural/diverse literature but I do believe that there should be much research done on the topics to find the correct information. I think that a book written to reflect a specific race, religion, culture, etc. should have the proper information about that race, religion, culture, etc.
Sara Graef
I believe that there should not be a specific regulation as to who is qualified to write diverse/multicultural literature. I think that it is important to have literature out there from both insiders and outsiders. Although outsiders may not have directly experienced the culture, race, religion, etc.; they can still do their job and research in depth about whatever it is they're writing about. Yes, I do believe that insider authors have one up on the outsider authors and that it's important to see multicultural literature from the person who has actually experienced it. However, I don't think that this means that outsiders can't do just as good of a job researching and observing a diverse group and collecting information to formulate a solid text. I think the only requirement diverse/multicultural literature should have is that the author should have proper and accurate information about that diverse group. It does not matter if that author experiences it first hand or collects information from insiders, as long as the literature reflects accurate information about that certain race, religion, gender, etc.
I feel like multicultural literature can be written by both insiders and outsiders. The key is though that the author HAS to be accurate in the portrayal of whatever group and information that he or she is trying to present. I think this is why it is argued that it is best for insiders to write about their culture, because often times from their experience within a culture their information tends to be very accurate compared to when an outsider writes. I feel that it is irresponsible when outsiders write about a culture and makes inaccurate representations. This can not only be misleading to readers but also insulting to readers as well.
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