a response

I am sure that many of these posts tend toward dry and boring to the casual reader. It is my hope, though, that the words will prevail and the reader will not "bounce" off the page. The following is a response to a group project on the Marxist-based Critical Theory as it relates to communication. Naomi is my energetic, young, creative partner in this.

Naomi and I were challenged and changed by our exploration of the Critical Theory and we want to offer a brief response to all the reading, video viewings, and discussions on Skype. It is delightful to permit and observe in yourself the altering of assumptions. Stan Deetz remarks that, “to engage life in a fresh and new way puts at risk what we took for granted.”

Our study led Naomi to see the value of Critical Theory for personal empowerment. When the ability to actualize our power as individuals, as humans, is denied, we are in a sense prevented from being fully human.  We are dehumanized. When we are given the tools to rise from this cage placed upon us by society as marginalized members of society, we have the privilege of being free to create. When we are able to create we help each other to grow as a culture. Her discovery dovetails with mine.

I began our study with stunted enthusiasm. The Marxist-born theory initially seemed colorless and harsh. It morphed gloriously. Naomi says it well,

“UNBELIEVABLE!!! Makes my mind hungry!” (NaomiSkype IM.2011).

My perceptual shift happened while watching a YouTube video by Stan Deetz. He talks about the limitations we place on situations when perceiving a problem as “fixed.” By doing this we shut out creativity and leave place for discussion only. If a thing is “fixed”, nothing changes. His enthusiasm for deep reflection, and creativity that precedes collaborative action displaced my previous view and redefined Critical Theory for me.

“You do not think out of the box by commanding the box! You think out of the box precisely by bringing ideas together that don't allow dominant ideas to continue to dominate.” Stan Deetz

Toward the middle of assembling the final presentation for this project, we both laughed at how this project loosely reflects the very elements of the Critical Theory that resonate with us: The overworked marginalized Gonzaga students are presented with vast amount of information that must fit on twelve Power Point slides. Instead of simply complaining and laboring in discussion of the issue, we were empowered to rise above the cage placed upon us. Through acceptance of the issue, deep reflection, and creative thinking, we arrived, as Deetz says, “at something fairly radical.” The twelve slide presentation offers information equal to approximately eighty slides through the use of imagination, technology, and loss of sleep. Critical Theory rules. 

I will post the product this next week.