Chapter 9: Liberty and Literacy

Hegemony theory

The belief that predominant influence has power over people, and that people are not smart enough to critically think about things. Concerns the issue of power in society and how major forces of control effect people. In schools, both the organization and curriculum teach compliance.

The Different Literacies:

Functional Literacy: Functional literacy is the ability of someone to “just get by.” This literacy includes writing a check, making change, and checking your paycheck. Functional Literacy originates from the U.S Army in WWII and the tools the Army used to screen new recruits. It’s important to understand that this literacy largely emphasizes just the basics in society and does not emphasize thinking critically about information or deciphering information.

Cultural Literacy: The processing of information to understand the modern world. Examples can include regional references to culturally significant symbols, archetypes, or ideas. (I.e Wawa is relevant to NJ, Blue is Democrats and Red is Republicans, or we call French fries French fries not chips). Being culturally literate is being familiar with a communities or cultures dominating ideology.

Critical Literacy: The ability to read and write and understanding the connection between power and knowledge. Examples in society can include how those in power can manipulate information. Connects directly to Hegemony theory in that this theory emphasizes that students can decipher information. Some examples can include reading an article and seeing what the authors goals are even if they don’t explicitly say what they mean. Paula Freare (French dude), theorized that knowledge can be power if we can think critically about information and understand what is being said or done.

Video Analysis:

• Functional: Labeling different objects to learn them

• Cultural: Reading the comics or playing scrabble

• Cultural: Writing ‘wash’ on a dirty car

• Critical: Reading more and more books.