From Punk to Pedagogy: Teaching Information Literacy Through a Subversive Lens

Abstract

Traditional models of information literacy instruction often emphasize compliance, neutrality, and academic conventions that can alienate students and reinforce dominant power structures. This article offers a subversive alternative by drawing on the ethos of punk rock to reimagine the librarian’s role as a radical educator. Rooted in critical information literacy and feminist pedagogy, this approach frames information literacy as an act of resistance that encourages students to interrogate authority, confront systemic injustice, and reclaim agency in their research practices. Through reflective analysis and practical examples, this study explores how punk values such as do-it-yourself (DIY) ethics, anti-authoritarianism, authenticity, and community can inform inclusive, liberatory teaching strategies. From zine-making to teaching with Reddit, this article illustrates how librarians can create spaces for vulnerability, experimentation, and transformation in the classroom. Ultimately, it invites educators to embrace imperfection, question neutrality, and cultivate a pedagogy that is as critical and courageous as the students being served.

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