Writing as a Social Practice

Literacy has always been used to divide people. As literary technology has changed over time the way in which it divides people has changed. Initially it was the denial of literacy that made people ignorant. Now literacy is used to increase ignorance. All of this requires us as literary participants to think critically about all of the media we consume. Not only the message, but also the character of the media. The more simply, and critical literacy are spread the more we will grow as a global community. Malala’s work is proof that literacy narratives can change the world. Spreading both simple and critical literacy still has a long way to go. As technology has interconnected the globe, literacy practices have interconnected with the technology. This has opened up vast new platforms on which both simple and critical literacy can be spread. However this has also allowed those that wish to suppress literacy to simply crank out more filth. a stream of content on a medium with no mes...

 “Literacy leads to logical, analytical, critical, and rational thinking, general and abstract uses of language, skeptical and questioning attitudes…”[Gee 50]. Those seeking to maintain control will always interfere in with literacy to avoid the outcomes Gee mentions above. A great example of this is the introduction of the term “conspiracy theorist”. Invented by the CIA after the Kennedy assassination to discredit anyone that questioned the official story.  Subtle manipulations like this have only be emboldened by the increase in connective technology. The mediums of radio and television allow messages to spread across the globe instantaneously, and to millions of people at once. This makes the content of any message spread powerful. One might think that with this power we would spread knowledge and love. Unfortunately this power is used to spread terror and hate. In the modern world simple literacy is freely given, so that propaganda can be effectively used. “The effect...

Malala's story            Literacy is a tool for human development, it allows people to interact, for ideas to flow.  Far too often the control of literacy, is used to oppress people, often without their knowledge. This is done in two ways. First simple literacy, the ability to read and write, is denied to those that with it would quickly see the tyranny around them and be moved to correct it, this is why Malala Yousefzai’s story is so powerful. Second critical literacy, the ability to assess the “medium of the message”, is subdued by the volume and variety of “literature” or media available for consumption.           Controlling literacy controls the messages that can be spread. Whether it is the hand scrawled notes of a rebellion of some impoverished nation, or the systematic message consolidation of twenty four hour media machines.  Both of these means of control serve to blind the people. “it is only too typic...