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Global Literature


Hey guys!

This week’s theme is all about what we have been studying and reading from all semester:

G L O B A L  L I T E R A T U R E

What is global literature?

Global literature is writing that people of any language and culture can relate to and have a meaning evoked from inside them.

            A great example of global literature is Girl by Jamaica Kincaid. It is relatable to any girl, anywhere. It is about a mom telling her daughter how to behave in front of  \society and people so that she can achieve real women status and not be considered as promiscuous. The piece as a whole speaks of what a girl should do, say, act, etc.  

 
 
            The rules itself are based on the tradition and culture in that time. You can see this in the references to Sunday school, planting her garden, and the activities she does. If the daughter does not follow the rules, she is labeled a bad person and someone that doesn’t belong.
            This all represents global literature because of the widely different rules than what girls in America are used to. In the United States, women and men are equal and can do whatever they want, however they want. Meanwhile, in Girl, there are rules and ways that must be followed. This is all based on the time this was written and the culture where this was the norm.
            Global literature is a great thing to teach to students because it can be seen in all sorts of works of very diverse nature. There are many options to teach it to students to keep them engaged and interested and one is to have them read Night, a book about a young man named Elie and his time during World War II. This book is a popular one and is taught frequently in English classes. To give it a twist however, you can have students go through their copies of the book and highlight cultural norms in the book that isn’t prevalent in today’s times, in America. Then, discuss these differences and why did the people in the book do what they did in that time period. Why is it relatable now? Why isn’t it?
            Then, have them research a few other titles that show the meaning of global literature. Then, have them pick one book to read (with teacher and parent approval) and give each a month to read it. As a final project, have them write an essay on the book and why it relates to global literature. You can also have them share the stories with classmates, allowing them to discuss the theme and allow further investigation into it.
             Global literature is more widely popular in pop culture than you think. You could choose a movie from here, and pick the top three. Then, have your class decide on the winning movie and let them watch it. As it plays, you can have the students write down all the little things they see that relate to the definition of Global Literature. Whether it be a culture or habit apart of the time, it’s all right. When the movie is over, have a class discussion and discuss all the Magical Realism that is identified.
And without further ado, I am off to watch some movies to look for all the culture! Have a blessed day!
Lily
 


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