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Paulo Freire: A Critical Encounter
Paulo Freire is one of the century's great thinkers on education and the politics of liberation. Known mostly for his literacy campaigns in Latin America and Africa, and for his seminal work Pedagogy of the Oppressed, his thinking continues to be rediscovered by generations of teachers, scholars, community activists and cultural workers in Europe and North America. While his name is synonymous with the practice of Critical Literacy' and A Pedagogy of Liberation', his work has been appropiated in many diverse fields of discipline and site-based projects of social reform. This volume represents a pathfinding analysis of Freires work and in many cases it offers an extension of his thinking in order to make it more applicable to first world contexts. Peter McLaren and Peter Leonard have brought together a divergent group of scholars widely recognized for their contributions to critical theory and critical pedagogy. Themes addressed include Freier's relation to feminist critique, his philosophical roots and an evaluation of his ideas from postmodernist and postcolonialist perspectives. The collection will be essential reading for anyone interested in the radical sociology of education and the politics of liberation.
- GenresEducationPhilosophy
212 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 1992
About the author
Peter McLaren
104 books32 followersProfessor in the Division of Urban Schooling, the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles (United States). He is the author and editor of forty-five books and hundreds of scholarly articles and chapters. His writings have been translated into 20 languages.
He is known as one of the leading architects of critical pedagogy and for his scholarly writings on critical literacy, the sociology of education, cultural studies, critical ethnography, and Marxist theory. He has developed a reputation for his uncompromising political analysis influenced by a Marxist humanist philosophy and a unique literary style of expression. His scholarship and political activism have taken him throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
He is known as one of the leading architects of critical pedagogy and for his scholarly writings on critical literacy, the sociology of education, cultural studies, critical ethnography, and Marxist theory. He has developed a reputation for his uncompromising political analysis influenced by a Marxist humanist philosophy and a unique literary style of expression. His scholarship and political activism have taken him throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
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May 6, 2020
This 1993 book is a collection of essays by scholars whose perspective on teaching and learning have been profoundly influenced by the writings and example of Paulo Freire. Freire himself wrote a Foreword and engaged in a "talking article" with Donaldo Macedo, which is included in the book. Topics discussed include Freire's' "Radical Humanism," his view on the politics of teaching, critical literacy, and the intersection of Freire's and Gramsci's work. Some of the chapters are more personal, such as bell hooks reflections on Freire's influence on her personally and professionally, while others were highly technical and frankly hard to follow.
One of the issues that seems to be prominent in the book is Freire's sexism and lack of appreciation for the multiple oppressions people experiences, especially in his early works like Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Freire himself seemed to acknowledge this failing and has sought to be more inclusive in his language. Yet he also maintains that his work describes a certain dynamic present in all oppressions.
The other issue raised is the need to read Freire's work in its historical and political context. Too often liberal academics have sought to appropriate Freire's ideas in the highly individualistic American culture, seeing the goal of his teaching philosophy as personal consciousness-raising rather his true focus rating group consciousness for significant social change. In the same spirit this collection of writings needs to be read in its context of the early 1990's post-Reagan era. This is not to say it has no contemporary relevance, but rather to acknowledge its attempt to speak to the issues of its time, which is not the same in our post 9/11, Trumpian era.
Like with many such edited books, I found some of the chapters deeply meaningful whereas others seemed off in an intellectual netherland I could not grasp. For those who are students of Freire, this is a great way to see the many ways his profound writings have guided and inspired all of us who have come after him.
One of the issues that seems to be prominent in the book is Freire's sexism and lack of appreciation for the multiple oppressions people experiences, especially in his early works like Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Freire himself seemed to acknowledge this failing and has sought to be more inclusive in his language. Yet he also maintains that his work describes a certain dynamic present in all oppressions.
The other issue raised is the need to read Freire's work in its historical and political context. Too often liberal academics have sought to appropriate Freire's ideas in the highly individualistic American culture, seeing the goal of his teaching philosophy as personal consciousness-raising rather his true focus rating group consciousness for significant social change. In the same spirit this collection of writings needs to be read in its context of the early 1990's post-Reagan era. This is not to say it has no contemporary relevance, but rather to acknowledge its attempt to speak to the issues of its time, which is not the same in our post 9/11, Trumpian era.
Like with many such edited books, I found some of the chapters deeply meaningful whereas others seemed off in an intellectual netherland I could not grasp. For those who are students of Freire, this is a great way to see the many ways his profound writings have guided and inspired all of us who have come after him.
Displaying 1 of 1 review