Date of Award
6-24-2020
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Department of English
First Advisor
Roberta Trites
Abstract
In this project, I examine theoretical parameters of what has historically been considered American children’s and adolescent literature to further complicate its subject matter. The importance of reconsidering subjects is upheld here as key to challenging longstanding cultural and political inequities in the reading and teaching of literature broadly. Nonetheless, as this project contends, children’s and adolescent literature as a discipline is uniquely positioned to examine political power and challenge major power structures, not in spite of its presumed minor position in academic and literary discourse, but largely because of it. Thus, what follows is an inquiry into contemporary theories of subjecthood unique to children’s literature and culture; a proposed alternative framework, “minor lit”; and an examination of its application in literary analysis and teaching.
Recommended Citation
Jacques, Wesley, "Minor Subjects: Power and Inequity in Children's and Adolescent Literature" (2020). Theses and Dissertations. 1263.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/1263
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2020.1603713872482
Page Count
152
Comments
Imported from ProQuest Jacques_ilstu_0092E_11750.pdf