Apologies for the post being posted late. I am still playing with Weebly and forgot to publish my changes.
This week's reading made me question how teachers can create an environment in which both genders can explore different genres in the classroom without feeling that the genre itself is more male/female dominant. The article specifically spoke about horror and its influence on preschool girls and I agree when it states, "it has become a middle-class preoccupation to shielf and thus retain the 'innocence' of children" (p. 727) however we seem to be ignoring the influence world news can have the students as well. In the past, the Brothers Grimm stories were told to children as a warning of the dangers around them, and the children used these stories as cautionary tales for their everyday lives. I believe that students nowadays need the same, a way to express the genre so it does not become a taboo for them and therefore attract them more to it. The article points out that storytelling can be a good form of exposure. Storytelling can allow students comfortable with the genre as well as explore how they interpret it (as there are many interpretations to one story like Jakayasha's tale). I do believe that this needs to start slow however as there are other factors to consider in education that may stop the exploration of horror in a classroom e.g., parents, uncomfortable students, admin pressures. The younger students will explore cartoon dipictions of horror shown in the Brothers Grimm stories.
For example:
This week's reading made me question how teachers can create an environment in which both genders can explore different genres in the classroom without feeling that the genre itself is more male/female dominant. The article specifically spoke about horror and its influence on preschool girls and I agree when it states, "it has become a middle-class preoccupation to shielf and thus retain the 'innocence' of children" (p. 727) however we seem to be ignoring the influence world news can have the students as well. In the past, the Brothers Grimm stories were told to children as a warning of the dangers around them, and the children used these stories as cautionary tales for their everyday lives. I believe that students nowadays need the same, a way to express the genre so it does not become a taboo for them and therefore attract them more to it. The article points out that storytelling can be a good form of exposure. Storytelling can allow students comfortable with the genre as well as explore how they interpret it (as there are many interpretations to one story like Jakayasha's tale). I do believe that this needs to start slow however as there are other factors to consider in education that may stop the exploration of horror in a classroom e.g., parents, uncomfortable students, admin pressures. The younger students will explore cartoon dipictions of horror shown in the Brothers Grimm stories.
For example:
Through this clip students can explore character creation and what makes someone "evil" versus "good" and what type of character does the wolf signify. Students can practise oral and written storytelling, while inputting elements of the horror genre into their stories. It would also be interesting to read such stories, given Jakayasha's tale, as it can provide me insight into the minds of my students. I would however proceed with caution since stories can be interpreted in many ways and may not directly relate to the author at all e.g., Stephen King. This was an interesting read and I look forward to providing some exposure to the genre to both my male and female students next year.
Allison S. Henward, and Laurie MacGillivray. "Bricoleurs in preschool: girls poaching horror media and gendered discourses." Gender and Education. Vol 26. Issue #7 (Nov 2014): Pp. 726-742.
Allison S. Henward, and Laurie MacGillivray. "Bricoleurs in preschool: girls poaching horror media and gendered discourses." Gender and Education. Vol 26. Issue #7 (Nov 2014): Pp. 726-742.