For this post we are to discuss our opinions on the "insider/outsider" debate. Until a few weeks ago when this was brought up in class I had never really thought about this issue. After reading the articles and thinking about the points brought up in class, I think that what is relevant is not whether the author is an insider or an outsider but if they are well researched, authentic, and truthful. I recognize that it a person who is an insider has a lot more insight into a particular lifestyle. However, if an outsider was genuinely interested in a certain topic then he or she could find out about the the topic in many ways. The most authentic way for an outsider to gain insider access is to ask the insiders. I would bet that most people would want to tell their story or talk to someone if the person he or she was talking to was genuine and thoughtful.
I don't think that just because a person is an outsider that he or she should have any less access to information about different lifestyles. In fact, if whatevers being written is written in a respectful way, then I commend the outsider for their careful attention to the topic. In class, I would like to explore how published authors feel about this topic. I would imagine that many people who are insiders have read outside accounts that are offensive and this might lead one to believe only insiders should tackle certain issues.
I would also like to see good examples of outsiders who have written about certain topics. Lastly, I would like to explore how someone is classified as in insider or an outsider - I know this seems fairly simple but how does one know for sure whether the person writing is genuinely an insider or outsider.
Thanks for reading :)
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2 comments:
I think the last question you posed about how we define who counts as an "insider" or "outsider" is a good one. Does a person self-identify? Does the "community" decide? What about identities that are, in theory, less "visible"? (I'm thinking about whether gay and lesbian authors would need to out themselves.)
I like your question about how we know if someone really is an insider. I also wonder about that myself and I think that it is a really difficult question to come up with an answer to. I was thinking about the idea that even inside a particular subgroup there are individuals who are more insiders then others. Each group has individuals that have different life styles, different experiences, and different views about out society, their lives, and the world in general. Therefore a piece of literature, written by an insider, could be seen as authentic by some individuals and not by others due to different life experiences. I think that there is such variety in our society today that it truly is hard to have an unanimous decision on if something is authentic, if someone is truly an insider, and if a piece of literature should be used or not.
I also like your idea that more important than the idea that something was written by an insider or an outsider, is that idea that literature should be researched, authentic, and truthful. This idea made me think about the fact that it may even be important for an insider to research ideas and facts because although they have lived their lives in the group they are in, or are writing about, that research my help to make their writing even more authentic as well. I also agree that I would like to see different examples of outsiders who wrote literature, that are respected by individuals on the “inside” of the group.
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