Final Reflection

So much to do in this final week of school, I almost completely forgot about this assignment.  Trying to get my thoughts together and compile everything I learned this semester is going to be quite a task, but I shall give it the ole college try.

One thing that I had written about in a previous blog post was the ever expanding definition of literacy. This is discussed in great detail in John Szwed’s article titled “The Ethnography of Literacy,” and he gives SEVERAL different definitions and types.  At first, I thought Literacy was just whether one could read or write, as well as understand what they are reading or writing.  Even though this definition has proven to be a bit too simplistic, it still had some complexities.  If my many literature classes have taught me anything, it’s that there is a learning curve to reading literature, and that some people are definitely very good at analyzing texts in very profound ways.  While this definition didn’t cover everything that literacy is, it did get that aspect correct, in that there are varying degrees of literacy.

Since taking this class, my definition of literacy has expanded greatly to encompass everything we do in this world.  One can become literate in cooking, as well as tasting, and having either of these literacies can give you value in this world.  This brings out another interesting idea I have learned, that in order to be able to critique something and have a valued opinion on the subject, you must be very literate in that field.  This is why we have valued critics in our country, and it takes a lot to become one of these critics because you need to portray a vast knowledge and informed opinion of the area you are critiquing.

Literacy also has a lot to do with one’s identity.  What you choose to be literate in ultimately shows how you define yourself.  One figure who comes to mind in this regard is Joe Rogan.  Joe Rogan has become a spokesman for several different subcultures today, and people hold a lot of value in his word. Even though he has never fought competitively, he is incredibly active in the UFC/MMA scene, and is the announcer of the biggest fights, because he has such a vast knowledge of the sport.  He has been able to portray the same amount of knowledge in other groups, such as marijuana advocacy and stand up comedy, and many others.  His vast array of interests and literacies has given him the ability to identify with many different types of people in American culture, and all these interests compile into the identity that is associated with the name Joe Rogan.  His identity in Popular culture is something that I, as well as others in America strive for.

Something that I had the pleasure of learning about in the last part of this class is the maker movement.  I had never heard of this subculture before, but had always considered myself a maker.  If there is way to DIY something, and make it out of objects that I have lying around, I will do it.  This mindset has made me into a very resourceful person, but there is a downside.  I have trouble throwing anything away, ever.  The thought of possibly needing something in the future keeps my house cluttered, and someday soon I may be diagnosed with a compulsive hoarding disorder.  I hope in future I can further be a part of this maker culture, and I really want to get a membership to the new local maker haven, The Fab Lab, where you can become literate with tools like 3D printers, plasma cutters, and more.

Overall, this was a very fun class to be a part of, and I was given chances to engage with others in my class who share common interests.  My definition of literacy has been changed forever, and I plan to pass on these ideas to my son at a young age, so that he can become literate in many areas of interest.  Thank you for the conscious-expanding class that will forever change my views on literacy practices and identity.