Multicultural Composition Pedagogy: Moving from Informative to Transformative

Sherie Mungo

10/19/11

                   

               Multicultural Composition Pedagogy: Moving from Informative to Transformative

Problem:  I think that the biggest issue with multicultural pedagogy in composition studies is the tendency to view multicultural studies as informational rather than transformational. That is to say, writings that speak to diversity are often used as guideposts to historical missteps that society now deems to be reprehensible. Minority works then become didactic forums about the dangers of engaging in behaviors such as racism and classism. This rhetorical approach can establish the false comfort in the student that these cultural issues are individual idiosyncrasies rather than societal structures and leads to complacency with the system itself.

Thesis:  In order to rectify this situation, I think that we must create and utilize a curriculum that employs critical lens to view diversity in the composition classroom as opposed to the cursory multiculturalism that is presently taught.

 Theoretical Framework: I argue that multicultural composition scholars need to explore ways in which to make multiculturalism more based in analysis. I think that utilizing established critical ideologies, such as Critical Race Theory in their classrooms can help composition instructors locate where they need to be in this argument. It is important to note that this theory focuses on modern manifestations of discrimination, albeit within a historical framework. In other words, critical race theory does not allow one to project blame onto historical wrongdoers but causes him or her to reflect on how they have perpetrated historical malevolence themselves. However, exposing modern day prejudice is not the only concern of this ideology. Social activism is a key factor to proponents because they believe that it is not enough to determine the flaws of the system, but that this knowledge must be a catalyst to transform society.

Application: Critical Race Theory is just one of the theories that composition scholars could use to reconstruct multiculturalism in our discipline. However, the main objective for infusing these ideologies into composition is so that it can develop theories native to our discipline.