We're moving to the issue of power in my Jan Term class at Saint Mary's College of California, "Race, Culture, and Power in Children's Books." I thought my Fire Escape folk might be interested in a couple of lists I'm sharing with my students.
Questions to Ask about Power in a Story:
Questions to Ask about Power in a Story:
- Who/what has the power to BE changed?
- Who/what has the power to MAKE change?
- Who/what has the power to PREVENT change?
- Who/what GAINS power and how?
- Who/what LOSES power and how?
- What KIND of power does each player have? Where did they get it? Do they use it? Why or why not?
- How is the child reader/listener empowered or disempowered by the story?
- Why am I writing this story?
- Could anyone else tell it better? Does that person have a voice I can seek to nurture or empower?
- Have I held enough babies in that community?
- Have I done my research?
- Am I allowing that child/teen character to be whole and real?
- What kind of power am I giving my fictional child/teen? Is it true to his/her context? Is it culturally appropriate or “western”?
- Is there an outside “savior?” If so, who is it and why? How much power am I giving that “savior” over the child/teen?
- Am I reinforcing a “single story” about that child/teen? (Watch Chimamanda Adichie's brilliant TED Talk if you don't get this one.)