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AML 2410
Fall 2006
Issues in American Literature and Culture:
American Children's Popular Culture in Literature, Film and Media
Reading Questions
Lesnik-Oberstein, Karin. "Childhood and Textuality: Culture, History, Literature." Children in Culture: Approaches to Childhood. Ed. Lesnik-Oberstein, Karin. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998.
Keep in mind that this reading is the introductory chapter to the text Children in Culture: Approaches to Childhood. The author will reference other chapters and it is interesting to note her summarizes of what the various chapters discuss. This gives you an overview of the text without having to completely read it. But, Lesnik-Oberstein also makes her own argument in this introductory chapter. [Note: This article will probably be more difficult to read than the previous two, but keep reading.]
-Lesnik-Oberstein begins her article with two questions: "how does our society see and position childhood and the child? What factors are deemed to be of relevance to these discussions, and what kind of language can be used?" (1). Keep these broad questions in mind not only through this reading but throughout the class.
-What is the constructivist view on childhood? How does it differ from the essentialist view? (This question is addressed early in the chapter, but finish the chapter and then return to this question.)
-Is childhood the area of one discipline? What are some different ways to approach childhood? (Let the examples and chapter discussions open you up to possibilities for your group project.)
-What are some central questions regarding childhood, identity, and society?
-What is the central argument that Lesnik-Oberstein examines in the chapter? (Again, this question is addressed early in the chapter, but finish reading the chapter and then return to it.)
-How does this article's discussion of medieval childhood differ from Kline? What does this difference mean to us as scholars? How can the reading of these two articles impact the way you as a student researches and discusses material for this class?
-Childhood defines and is defined by what? Explain.
-What does Lesnik-Oberstein argue in regards to the academic discipline of children's literature?
-What is the author talking about when she refers to the "'real' child"? How does this relate to children's literature? How could this be problematic?
-Return to the question of Lesnik-Oberstein's central argument. What essentially does she try to demonstrate? Explain in your own words.