The counter-narrative is among the most important tools in critical theory and pedagogy. Standing in contrast to the dominant stories being used to explain the past, present, and future, the counter narrative suggests the key roles that privilege and oppression have played in the construction of reality. In a historical sense, the counter-narrative is a vitally important way of illuminating the experiences of marginalized or minoritized populations so that the written history of social phenomena (such as higher education) better reflects the lived experiences of all those that it claims to represent. This course was designed to focus on an emerging counter-narrative related to oppression and the historical and contemporary experiences of marginalized communities in higher education. However, as with all forms of storytelling, the view of the counter-narrative provided is incomplete and may also obscure our view of other vitally important counter-narratives. For this assignment, you will help to rectify this issue by either elaborating further a theme from this course or by proposing a theme that might be explored in a future iteration of this course.
Examples of possible expansions on the course theme include topics like: the experience of Latinx populations, the role of universities in the creation of White racial superiority mythos, and “philanthropy” and higher education for indigenous persons. Examples of potential new themes include: queer students and moral panics over student sexuality, the complex relationship between universities and student athletes, the experience of underprepared students in a consumption-oriented admissions marketplace, students with non-dominant forms of capital in a world where higher education serves as a status-marking good, and the climate for students identified as religiously non-conforming at faith based institutions.
Part One: Proposal (10 points)
Due Sunday 3/12 (or you can take until 3/26 after Spring Break if you need more time to read and process)
Length: 2 pages, double-spaced (you’re also welcome to play around with video, audio, and other submission formats)
In two pages, please identify a brief overview of the following:
What is the theme expansion or new theme you are considering? Please provide a brief overview and the rationale for selection.
How does it connect to the course’s larger themes?
Why is the topic of interest to you personally and/or professionally?
What are some books or journal articles that have you begun to identify that could illuminate the theme? (citation and very brief description of how you feel it connects to the theme)
Last Completed Projects
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