The Rhetoric of Diversity and the Traditions of American Literary Study: Critical Multiculturalism in English

by Lesliee Antonette

Overview

This book begins with an historical overview of the development of the concept of multiculturalism as it has been implemented in the American university. The book defines American multiculturalism through a focus on the ways theories and practices of historical, non-critical, multiculturalism have been used in the discourse of academic English departments. The author maps the problematic relationship between radical theory and institutional practices, which impedes the development of a critical multiculturalism that engages both literary theory and pedagogy. This critical multicultural theory and practice work to reconsider the traditional value of difference.

_

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780897895460
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/30/1998
Series:	Critical Studies in Education and Culture Series
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1390L (what's this?)

About the Author

LESLIEE ANTONETTE is Assistant Professor of English, East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania./e

Table of Contents

Series Foreword
Introduction
Ethico-Political History and the Production of a Non-Critical Multiculturalism
Reconstructing Multiculturalism Critically
Critical Multicultural Readings of American Texts
Critical Multicultural Pedagogy
Appendix
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Distinguishing critical from noncritical multiculturalism, argues that the noncritical variety has abounded historically in US university English programs and serves to reproduce privileged discourse and the very oppressive practices it seeks to excise from composition and literature. Applies the tenets of critical theory to demystify the logical underpinnings of noncritical multiculturalism and create a space in which critical practices and theories can thrive. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews