Literacy Myths, Legacies, and Lessons: New Studies on Literacy

Abstract

In his latest writings on history of literacy and its importance for present understanding and future rethinking, historian Harvey J. Graff continues his critical revisions of many common ideas among scholars and others. The eight wide-ranging and diverse essays speak to each other's central concerns about place of literacy in modern and late-modern culture and society, and its complicated historical foundations. The introduction for Literacy Myths, Legacies, & Lessons sets stage for connections between principle concerns of this book. Drawing on other aspects of his research, Graff places chapters that follow in context of current thinking and major concerns about literacy, and development of both historical and interdisciplinary studies. Special emphasis falls upon usefulness of the literacy myth as an important subject for interdisciplinary study and understanding. Critical stock-taking of field includes reflections on Graff's own research and writing of last three decades and relationships that connect interdisciplinary rethinking and literacy myth. The collection is noteworthy for its attention to Graff's reflections on his identification of the literacy myth and in developing website LiteracyStudies@OSU as a model for university-wide interdisciplinary programs. They also deal with ordinary fears about literacy, or illiteracy, that are shared by academics and concerned citizens. The nontechnical essays will speak to both academic and non-academic audiences across disciplines and cultural orientations.

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