Expanding The Cannon: A Review On Contemporary Marginalized Writers
by Edith & Melissa, Seniors at iPreparatory Academy
by Edith & Melissa, Seniors at iPreparatory Academy
In order to better understand this concept, one must know what the Western Canon is. This is the idea that students are confined to the works that have been defined as high culture literature as well achieved the title of “classics.” It does not include any contemporary or modern works meaning that many writings are by “dead white men” as described by Ms. Keller. This results in the exclusion of several perspectives from other groups such as women and the South American, Asian, and African communities. An expansion of the canon is necessary for everyone because it enriches people’s learning experiences by including different viewpoints of cultures, ethnicities, genders, and races.
In AP Literature class, Ms. Keller included The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, who won the National Book Award For Young People’s Literature, Golden Kite Award for Young Adult Fiction, and Carnegie Medal. The story is centered around a young teenage girl, Xiomara, as she writes poetry to work through discovering her identity and dealing with the conflicts within the relationships in her family and friends. Xiomara illustrates how the Afro-Dominican and Catholic background influences her family dynamics, which also affects the life outside of her family. One of the unique features of the book incorporates the idea that poetry is a way Xiomara expresses herself, which in the end serves as a uniting force.
This year, the arts community took a hit; the spread of the COVID-19 virus forced studios and theaters to close their doors and move to virtual programs, an difficult task for a community that thrives on live audiences. It is documented that the systematic racism in the United States has caused a disproportionate impact on people of color specifically African-Americans. This effect is translated into the dance community where dancers are unable to work because of restrictions of the pandemic. Jamar Roberts, Resident Choreographer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, created a piece for the Guggenheim’s Works & Progress about COVID-19 and its disproportionate effect on the Black community. However, he was unable to enter a studio space, so he recorded and performed the piece in his basement. |
Personal Reflection on The Poet X
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Joint reflection:
Edith: This book feels a lot more engaging than others because it deals with more relatable issues. I enjoy reading how the author depicts the experience of the Latin American son or daughter and how no matter what Hispanic country, the experience is universal in many ways. Also, the format, each chapter as a poem in contemporary English and some Spanish, makes me feel relaxed because there is no pressure in understanding difficult “old English” that is common in other works we read from the cannon. I highly recommend this book to any young people looking to see a beautiful, expressive novel. Melissa: Personally, I really like how some chapters are presented in different layouts and forms of poetry; it is visually pleasing and creative. There is one poem that begins from the top left corner of a page and with each line it slowly shifts to the bottom right corner. Also, I enjoy the colloquial language that the author uses that mixed some Spanish or Spanglish, which as a Spanish speaker it was fun to read. Additionally, the audiobook, read by the author, enhanced my experience. The audiobook made sure I read the poem the way the author intended, and it completely amplifies the reader’s experience in a good way. The reading made me more emotional; I got goosebumps and cried in some parts. So, I highly recommend reading this book along with the audiobook. |