What to say about Monster? Some things I liked: it was a quick read, it was suspenseful, its theme of racial inequality was obvious. I wasn't necessarily a big fan of the script format, however, I would teach this book- but why?
The book's main character, Steve Harmon, is a sixteen-year-old high school student with a love for film, who may or may not have been involved in a crime. Steve is on trial for felony murder charges associated with this crime, and is facing 25 years to life in prison. I think it would be easy for students to put themselves in Steve's shoes and relate to his experience, thus making the book worth teaching because I think students would have alot to say about it.
Would Steve's life have been different if he had been white? Would he even be on trial? Did he get a fair trial because he was black? Was his lawyer prejudiced against him? Was the jury? What does it mean to be black and caught in the judicial system in America? These are all great questions that could be discussed. However, what I don't like is that at one point in the book the author mentions that Steve went into the store to get some mints; in the trial Steve denies ever being in the store. This raised some questions in my mind about what message the author was sending about race and adolescence. When should people be responsible for their actions? When are they old enough to serve a lifetime in jail for a mistake?
I really liked Hades' article and his ideas about semiotic reading. Students do interpret literature, movies, and music through a lense that is shaped by our culture. We shouldn't impose our own ideas, but we should ask them questions that force them to reevaluate their own beliefs about race, gender, and class. I loved the part where Hade says that his eldest daughter said that he was ruining the pleasure of the lion king for her, because it points to a bigger issue- should children's literature be nothing more than entertainment, or is it meant to teach our students how to critically think about issues dealing with culture, etc.? I think we'll have alot to talk about in class, can't wait!
What Do You Mean No More Books?!?!
13 years ago
"We shouldn't impose our own ideas, but we should ask them questions that force them to reevaluate their own beliefs about race, gender, and class."
ReplyDeleteI agree that we have a lot to talk about tonight Nicole! I tend to agree with you in the statement you make above. Many of our students are not even quite sure what they believe or if the beliefs that they do have are not in some way mirroring those of their parents, friends, or their culture. Students are sometimes shocked when I ask them, "Where does that belief come from?" While a question like this asks students to do as you suggest--"reevaluate their beliefs"--it is also clearly directed toward provoking a critical response. Is this "imposing"?
Well, I think that depends on how we define "imposing". what does it mean to impose? Impose, to me, suggests that we are forcing our personal beliefs on someone else. That's not our place to do that to young people b/c they're too impressionable and we shouldn't mold their minds in our own image. I think it's best to do as you did with your students and ask them questions that make them think. Is asking students questions that require thought our main goal as a teacher of literature?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that this novel brings up many important questions about race, prejudice, and stereotypes. I think that is could lead to some interesting discussions in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI also like the point you made about Steve denying that he was ever in the store when he actually was. I'm not exactly why the author chose to go this route with this situation. Maybe he didn't want us to know for sure whether Steve was truly innocent or not. It could be that he wanted us to draw our own conclusions about it.
I really liked your ideas on teaching this book because students would be able to have a lot of discussion about it. Your questions would be good discussion questions to get things moving or for an idea for a short essay on this novel even.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of "12 Angry Men." Is the kid innocent? Is he guilty? Does that matter in the story? You raise some good points in the third paragraph, especially.
ReplyDeleteMegs...I kept thinking about the move 12 Angry Men as well. so much proof and yet so much doubt is this what Myers was getting at when he wrote this play? Give two options and let the reader decide if Steve got off because he was innocent or that he was able to beat the rap.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of the script format of this novel either, however, as I mentioned in Josh's blog (I think), it's a style that can really appeal to reluctant readers. It's not my cup of tea (or can of Diet Coke, as the case may be), but I have found that there are a large variety of ways to teach a screenplay that don't exist with traditional texts.
ReplyDeleteI also thought about where the line between entertainment and analysis of the text should be drawn.
ReplyDelete