Critical Social Inquiry 0123 - Rethinking Childhood

This course involves "rethinking childhood" by exploring ideas about young people through interweaving social and literary analysis, with a focus on poetry for young audiences. What kind of poetry do adults think children want to read or are capable of understanding and what does that reveal about adults' ideas about childhood? Course readings encompass mid- to late-20th century American poetry written for young audiences, psychology, sociology, and childhood studies. Specific units this semester will include poetry and resilience (in poetry by Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, and Eloise Greenfield), and poetry and the natural world.

Culture, Humanities, and Languages Power, Community and Social Justice Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research