A Justice Site
Outsider Theory
Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP
California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan, Transcend Art and Peace
Created: December 10, 2001
Latest Update: December 10, 2001
Faculty:
jeannecurran@habermas.org
Olivier at tapcourse@yahoo.com
takata@uwp.edu
Us and Them:Journal entry by Tahanda Taylor
Copyright: Jeanne Curran, Susan R. Takata, and Tahanda Taylor: November 2001.
"Fair Use" encouraged.
Tashanda wrote this entry in September. I recall being perplexed about how to answer her. Then the war intervened, and I'm afraid I neglected to answer her. But she asks some very good questions, particularly who defines the identity of the "other," of the "not Other?" This is, of course, a large part of the substance of post-colonialism, but as Prof. Munashe Furasa points out, what post-colonialism? We're still in the midst of colonialism.I'd suggest that you look also at an older file on this topic: Ain't Us
On Monday, September 5, 2001, Tashanda Taylor wrote:
Hi Jeanne,This is Tashanda and I am enrolled in Soc 355
In response to the first week readings and the whole outsiders theory, many questions and thoughts come to mind, but one I must ask: Why is the outsider on the "outside". Who says the insider, whoever the dominant norm at the time defines as such, is truly not the outsider.
jeanne's comments: Interesting approach. Of course, it depends upon whose perspective you take. This is, to some extent, what Edward Said points out in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. Part of the explanation for this is that insider-outsider represents a dichotomy, like norm-antinorm. The trouble is that such categorical thinking traps you, since the outsider is defined as much by the insider as the insider is by the outsider. This is one of the reasons we give for how oppression hurts the oppressor as much as it does the oppressed. Oppression, discrimination, exclusion, operate to limit our imaginary and to constrain our thinking: usually to the catgories included in the dominant discourse.I can only conclude, after reading the various articles and readings posted, that the "outsider" truly is the one that makes the insider who he is,Little in life is that simplistic.
jeanne's comments: Careful of phrasing like "I can only conclude . . . " I could conlcude just as easily that the insider makes the outsider who he is . . .The language you are searching for is "one possible conclusion is that . . . "
. . . the outsider helps with the structure of belief that determines if he/she will lock himself/herself into one singular way of thinking, and/or live soley based on one's sociological concept.
jeanne's comments: I don't know what you mean by the last phrase.Without research and the explanation of different disciplines how would one know whether he/she is "out or in" based on the dominant norm.
jeanne's comments: I never knew an "Other" who didn't know he/she was an "Other." Read W.E.B. duBois The Souls of Black Folk That's what Double Consciousness is all about.If, for some reason, I missed it, such as you did with Tarzan, I hope that your concept of mutulaity and positive dominant discourse will enlighten me further.
jeanne's comments: I don't remember the Tarzan reference, just that everyone laughed at me. But I like that you have included references to our class discussions. I think you're mixing up Fellman's reference to mutuality as a paradigm shift away from adversarialism with dominant discourse. Dominant discourse in America in 2001 definitely tends more to adversarialism than to mutuality. I'm not sure what you mean by "positive dominant discourse." Are you confusing dominant discourse with measures of leadership in face-to-face groups?Hope this is not too long, however, many questoins come to mind after reading. As someone stated in class, I to was enticed to read on and on and on. See you in class and sending more responses in the future.
Take care
Tashanda Taylor
Soc 355