The Difficulties of Teaching Non-Western Literature in the United States.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Difficulties of Teaching Non-Western Literature in the United States.
Authors: Barnard, Ian
Source: Radical Teacher. Spring2010, Issue 87, p44-54. 11p.
Subject Terms: *Literature studies, *Public universities & colleges, *Anxiety, Ideological conflict, Ignorance (Theory of knowledge), Literature & state, Politics & literature
Geographic Terms: United States
People: Kandaswamy, Priya
Abstract: The article discusses the difficulties faced by Priya Kandaswamy in teaching non-Western literatures to a group of racially and ethnically diverse, working-class students at a public university in the U.S. It notes that Kandaswamy identified that the kinds of responses to difference in literature arises not only in ideological conditioning and ignorance, but also in simple developmental immaturity, and anxiety around one's own self. It cites that students reduce difference to sameness by focusing in possible points of commonality to their own experience. It states that the most obvious downfall of teaching non-Western literature is the unconscious beliefs and disposition of students that U.S. is more advanced and democratic than non-Western countries.
Database: Education Research Complete
Description
Abstract:The article discusses the difficulties faced by Priya Kandaswamy in teaching non-Western literatures to a group of racially and ethnically diverse, working-class students at a public university in the U.S. It notes that Kandaswamy identified that the kinds of responses to difference in literature arises not only in ideological conditioning and ignorance, but also in simple developmental immaturity, and anxiety around one's own self. It cites that students reduce difference to sameness by focusing in possible points of commonality to their own experience. It states that the most obvious downfall of teaching non-Western literature is the unconscious beliefs and disposition of students that U.S. is more advanced and democratic than non-Western countries.
ISSN:01914847
DOI:10.1353/rdt.0.0078