Critical Theory : A Critical Perspective

For the purpose of this assignment I will consider how I have already started to develop as a ‘Critical Practitioner’. By this statement I would put forward how I am being ‘open minded’, use a ‘reflective approach’ that takes account of ‘different perspectives, experiences and assumptions’ (Glaister cited in the reader pg 8). I will discuss how my practice has developed and has been influenced by K315 course materials such as Barnett’s three domains of critical practice, action, reflexivity and analysis (Barnett

A forth arguement, critical literacy, exists in small american accedemic communities as oppotititionall material rather than a popular and driving theory. As primarily a marxist idea, it is popular in 3rd world contries used as a means of power and controll over those regions. Seen as a threat to capitalism, it is considered danagerous and will most likely continue be banned from american classrooms for the forseeable future.

Is it socially acceptable behaviour for people to dedicate their lives to an object? Sure, one might say. People have passions and hobbies; these “objects” are worked hard for and should be enjoyed. Although most would say that this type of behaviour is not how normal people should live and that life’s fruition lies in the hands of social interaction; we can only truly enjoy life in the company of other humans, not objects. Where is the line drawn? Is it possible to cling on to a possession so much that it starts to detrimentally affect the person involved? W.D. Valgardson’s short story The Novice demonstrates that this is certainly a possibility. The protagonist undergoes a similar situation; he gets caught up in idealism (glamorizing

Ahmed (2011) cautions that the “critical” in CWS means one must be vigilantly aware that when trying to unlearn privilege in a culture shaped by privilege, of one’s own positionality and power, in a field meant to disrupt both. Critical thinking means “to think with complexity, to go below the surface and explore multiple dimensions and nuances” (Sensoy & DiAngelo, 2014, p.1) and in CWS, the critical thinking includes a deeply self-reflexive examination, understanding and vigilance of one’s own whiteness and privilege as Ahmed advises.

The first step is to separate what one believes from that one knows, and to separate what is from what must be. (Hinchey, 5) By doing this, one is able to begin to deconstruct the assumptions about the system in which we operate, which allows the individual to see the system as custom instead of irrefutable law. The next step in critical theory is

If I am to develop my personal critical thinking ability, I must first make a conscious choice to understand the basic concept of a premise and then make critical reflection of this basic concept by expanding my thinking approach. To achieve this, I must ask radical questions that will enhance the scope of analysis and judgment. I must move from the region of subconscious thinking to one of conscious thinking because in so doing, I become aware that I am actually thinking. This awareness will allow me to think beyond rudimentary concepts through critical reasoning and critical reflection to decipher underlying issues that are concealed in the concept under investigation. By understanding the predictable

Mainstream is considered to be a means to the people in power, position and upper classes while dehumanizing and providing misrepresenting standards of a crime and the individuals; on the other hand, critical theory shed some light in understanding while giving support to the poor, feminism that has been ignored by mainstream criminology, and the powerless such as people from a rural area or with unfortunate

Critical Theory (CT), holds that institutionalized oppression of groups of people in a society- cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender groups- is often supported by the oppressed peoples themselves, who believe the system to be in their own best interests (Owens & Valesky, 2015). When critical race theory is applied to race, and specifically in education to the achievement gap, it is also termed Critical Race Theory (CRT), which is defined by Solorzano (1997) as scholarship and discourse on race and racism in an attempt to eliminate racism and racial stereotypes from society, including laws, social policy, and organizational cultures (Owens & Valesky, 2015).

(Travers 15) The paradigm has since expanded its scope to the research of many additional, overlapping inequalities, such as racism and sexism. (16) At the heart of the approach is the ontological assumption that “reality” is not an objective entity, but is instead constructed by dominant groups for their own benefit. Critical social scientists explore how powerful groups utilize social hierarchies and structures to further their prosperity and shape what is known as social “reality.” Notions of “reality,” although constructed, have tangible effects, and the critical paradigm focuses on how this manifests in the lived experience of society's marginalized. The voice of the subjugated is given greater epistemological weight, as social research is meant to be emancipatory in purpose (18) Valuable research, then, is that which arises from dialogue between researcher and the researched, and promises the potential for creating social change that reduces inequality and increases social justice.

Egocentrism – Inability to see things at others’ points of view. I want you to support me and tell

“The problem of holding the Negro down, therefore, is easily solved. When you control a man’s thinking you not have to worry about his actions. You do have stand here or go yonder. He will find his “proper place” and will stay in it” (Woodson p. 5). In the Miseducation of the Negro he focused in on the problems of the education system for African Americans leading to the dire effects of plight of the Negro. This timeless work is relevant and parallel today; he speaks on the lack of racial consciousness and the self-hatred through education that teaches him to despise himself/herself. For African Americans and other peoples of color, hegemony has placed us as at subordinate class in a white supremacist patriarchal society. Combining theories of political theorist, Antonio Gramsci, historian Carter G. Woodson, sociologist W.E.B Du Bois, and social theorist Michael Foucault a theoretical and practical coherence can show the relationship of knowledge and power. Critical Pedagogy links the relationship of knowledge and power, in which knowledge is socially constructed and rooted in a nexus of power relations (Darder, Baltodano, & Torres p.63). Critical consciousness within critical pedagogy has us consider as students and future educators the role of education and knowledge when it comes oppression and decolonization.

The theoretical framework of this study was shaped in what is known as critical pedagogy. Critical pedagogy considers how education can provide individuals with tools to better themselves and help create a more equal and fair society. Critical pedagogy can help students stand up and question authority.

Critical cerebrating is a way, style, path, or kinetics of mentally conceived in which an individual uses to find deeper denouements to everyday events or situations. Critical cerebrating straddles and revolves around philosophy and when asked to define critical cerebrating is, then philosophy plays a role. To endeavor to define critical mentally conceiving, the phrase must be divided into separate words. The word “critical” can pose two analytical construal’s. One meaning of “critical” exposes exigency and a sense of emporia. One cannot expect to ken the unknown, however we still possess an obscure sense or impasse of cerebrated. And that the events have to unfold and unravel on its own. The second part of the word exhibits

Critical Theory: Social and economic oppression of a group of individuals who eventually recognize their oppression and strive change in order to eliminate the oppression.

According to Lum (2007) critical consciousness “is a process through which people come to an understanding of power, empowerment, and oppression. Developing critical consciousness is a two-step process that involves learning to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions and action against oppressive elements”. Experiences throughout life assist in the multiple identities that people have. It is important to “understand people through their construction and enactment of their multiple identities” (Lum, 2007, p.48). In order to understand the diversity of a person, social workers need to: