Yasmin - Post #8

I enjoyed reading Lorraine's Story and having the opportunity to situate myself in another tutor's experience in our writing center, and tutoring mostly academically while also being enrolled in a creative program. I pursued the social sciences as an undergrad, so I really enjoyed this piece because I could see major aspects of my mindset and approach in both Lorraine and Brian. I was interested in the 'debate' between the two and appreciated the democratic approach to disagreement that I feel can only really occur in a Writing Center (in opposition to a classroom with the hierarchal dynamic).

I didn't love the sort of hard-line approach to academic writing as bad that the writer took -- I felt like there are so many incredible bridge authors in the interdisciplinary academy of the 21st century -- I'm thinking of people like bell hooks or Maggie Nelson who weave theory, personal writing, and creativity into their writing in really delightful ways. Even the authors that Goedde cites - Bartholomae and Freire -- perform this same kind of hybrid work (although maybe I've drunk too much of the 'accessible theory' Kool Aid to really know what's what anymore). But I did find lots of resonance at the end with the idea of the economy of language, which I think is one of the many bridges between good academic writing and creative writing, if we should keep the two separate.

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 30, 2018 at 11:38 AM

    Where can I get some of this accessible theory kool aid? I need to read more bridge theory and acclimate myself in general. The hybrid theory and creative writing you're talking about has been helpful when I have encountered it. Like bell hooks. It's just a matter of making myself do the work with this goldfish brain.

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