Hi Micheal. I guess my first reaction to your inquiry is that it is a
fascinating idea to transport inkshedding to a new cultural context.
My second reaction is one of hesitation and caution when you asked in
your second response, "Could inkshedding cause serious harm? To me,
only in the additional opportunities it provides for expression and
the potential for being shocked by increasingly honest commentary". I
think the concepts of "expression" and "honest commentary" are
culturally situated terms.
From my own second language experience with journal writing in a
Canadian political and educational context, I have found it takes time
to build trust so that international students are willing to venture
beyond our societal and politically-correct rhetoric. I have been
shocked at times (a positive by the way) by the "honest commentary"
that I have read on occasion, but then I asked for it, right?
However, I'm the only one who reads their writing and from my own
experience, I understand the bumpy and daily-shifting journey toward
cultural adjustment (referred to as cultural shock by some). Beyond
my own need to discipline and positively transform some of my
reactions, there are no societal forces at play that might respond in
an unforseen manner (if a response happened to be read by someone
else). I hope my sharing my thoughts will provide some insight as to
possible cultural forces at play in responses. What a fascinating
quest and potential area of research you are embarking on. I hope you
keep us posted. Gloria Michalchuk
Quoting MICHAEL RYAN <[log in to unmask]>:
> Miriam: First, my apologies [as I have already apologized to Russ
> and Natasha] the post was meant to go to Russ only, as he has been
> kind enough to deal with my ponderings in the past. So, the idea
> was half-formed and I was trying to strike while the iron was hot,
> rather than wisely and reservedly looking to the distribution of my
> reply. So now I repent at leisure, though not as a result of your
> thoughtful reply.
> My sense of inkshedding has always been that it tended towards
> methodology, rather than ontology, epistemology or ideology.
> However, as Bourdieu has warned me [Did I listen?] the more neutral
> and natural it appears, the greater the potential that it is fully
> imbued with values too subtle to discern. Thus, finding myself
> hopelessly a white wine socialist comfortably numb in the hegemony,
> I occasionally sallie forth with grandeous ideas about fixing
> something - that may indeed to the casual observer seem [or be] far
> from broken. Again, as you so correctly indicate, there may be
> aspects of inkshedding I have not considered [is it a patriarchy?].
> However, I am one of those folks who now consider inkshedding an
> answer to many things [an, not the] and having the answer I look for
> questions to which it may apply. I will have to study the answer
> more, though to be honest, I am willing to risk being wrong. Could
> inkshedding cause serious harm? To me, only in the
> additional opportunities it provides for expression and the
> potential for being shocked by increasingly honest commentary.
> So, any opportunity to take inkshedding further afield, I attempt
> to create and satiate. One of my potential co-presenters is an
> Omani who was at the inkshed in Nova Scotia in 2005. So, he would
> know what he is getting into, and I did not downplay the potential
> of inkshedding to allow greater participation - dialogue.
> I trust all is going well with you. I am home ill [too ill to
> work that is] while I write my research paper to complete my MA. It
> is heavy slugging, but bound to finish someday. My research is on
> taking inkshedding to Costa Rica - Counter dominance - and my sense
> of self-righteousness is numbing at times.
> I sincerely thank you for taking the time and effort to reply.
> Michael Ryan
>
>
> [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Michael,
> I think your questions raise interesting issues about inkshedding.
> Theoretically, yes, inkshedding is not gendered and equalizes all
> participants. That being said, my research has been rife with subtle
> and not so subtle examples that suggest otherwise. There is an
> inherent vulnerability to inkshedding that seems to be gendered, so it
> may not be as straightforward as you might like it to be.
> Miriam
>
> Quoting MICHAEL RYAN :
>
>> Dear Doctor Hunt,
>> I have an outside chance to take Inkshedding to Oman. Without
>> going into what I do not know about inkshedding and the culture of
>> Oman, I will try one short hypothesis and ask if you could direct me
>> to any relevant literature from the inkshedding perspective.
>>
>> Hypothesis: Inkshedding, as it is anonymous and neither the gender
>> of the original commentor, nor the subsequent "reviewer[s]" is
>> revealed, may lead to increased interaction [particulalry from women]
>> in a mixed classroom in a traditional Oman setting. It would allow
>> men and women to freely exchange commentaries, without breaching
>> cultural conditioning. I'm not sure if conditioning is correct, or
>> if there is some Shria legal principle involved - or - both - or -
>> neither. My Omani colleagues, graduates of Carleton U and members of
>> the soccer team with me will know the answers to why it occurs. If
>> not, I studied with two men and three women and there must be a way
>> into this question through them.
>>
>> As I understand it, the classes are mixed, but the women are
>> separated and sit in the rear. As well, a question for discussion or
>> comment posed by the instructor may only be replied to by the men,
>> because of cultural propriety. Women will provide consensus, but
>> will not challenge. The situations outlined are derived from the
>> website eof the Higher Colleges of Technology of Oman. These are
>> meant to be a description to assist teachers in seeing if they are
>> suited to the setting and a guide to their longer term behaviour once
>> on-site.swer
>>
>> Perhaps this is where I address Natasha's challenge of
>> problematizing Inkshedding and showing the potential of this
>> methodology to level gender barriers, at one and the same time
>> re-establishing a broader community of writers, readers,
>> collaborative and social then could have existed with traditional
>> oral inter-change.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Michael Ryan
>>
>> PS I am joining CASSLL again, as soon as they post where I can send
>> my money. I missed my chance in Gimli, but then a lot of us may have
>> been encouraged to wait.
>>
>>
>> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>> To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
>> [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
>> write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
>>
>> For the list archives and information about the organization,
>> its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
>> http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
>> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
> [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
> write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
>
> For the list archives and information about the organization,
> its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
> http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>
>
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
> [log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
> write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
>
> For the list archives and information about the organization,
> its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
> http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
To leave the list, send a SIGNOFF CASLL command to
[log in to unmask] or, if you experience difficulties,
write to Russ Hunt at [log in to unmask]
For the list archives and information about the organization,
its newsletter, and the annual conference, go to
http://www.stu.ca/inkshed/
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
