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- Message-ID: <EDPOLYAN%93012715165452@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU>
- Newsgroups: bit.listserv.edpolyan
- Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 14:57:58 MST
- Sender: Professionals and Students Discussing Education Policy Analysis
- <EDPOLYAN@ASUACAD.BITNET>
- From: AHKAM@ASUACAD.BITNET
- Subject: Great Books
- Lines: 26
-
- Before this discussion gets lost in the deluge of responses for research
- agendas, I would like to reply to an earlier request for book title to
- diversify the "classics" list.
- The reason for my initial observations of ignored voices was not necessarily
- to then include them. It seems to me, that there is a problem with the notion
- of "classic" which is way the conversation originated. "Classics" are culture
- (and therefore normative) bound. They reflect a specific and privileged
- position in society. This position is reinforced by the historical nature of
- "classics". New authors and new voices find it difficult to break into the
- mainstream.
- Another problem, it seems to me is the focus of books. Books, by virtue of the
- way they are published (ie. economic consideration and academic review) tend to
- limit positions outside the mainstream. If you want to know what people on the
- margins have to say, you need to look at the underground publications from
- these groups whether they be women's groups, ethnic groups, gay and lesbian
- groups, or political fringe groups.
- So rather than attempting to infuse this literature into a list of "classics" I
- would suggest either another type of list or a change in the title. Indeed,
- there is a danger that when these publications get wider distribution they lose
- their function.
-
- KYLE MESSNER
- Arizona State University
- College of Education
- Payne 204B
- 602-965-3902
-