ERIC Number: EJ746985
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Jun
Pages: 22
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0045-6713
EISSN: N/A
National Identity in a Multicultural Society: Malaysian Children's Literature in English
Desai, Christina M.
Children's Literature in Education, v37 n2 p163-184 Jun 2006
This article explores the question of how children's literature reflects national identity in a diverse society. Drawing parallels with Ellison's "Invisible Man," it speculates on how literary omissions and misrepresentations of diverse groups may influence the minds of young readers in their attitudes toward themselves, their nation, and others. In a sampling of the current children's picture book literature of Malaysia in English, it relates current thinking in multiculturalist and post-colonial theory to the forms of multiculturalism found in these works. It examines this literature's representations of history, diversity, class, gender, and values to determine who is represented, how they are portrayed, who is excluded, and what values are promoted, exploring what image of national identity this literature projects.
Descriptors: Cultural Pluralism, Foreign Countries, Picture Books, Nationalism, Childrens Literature, English, History, Cultural Differences, Values, Gender Issues
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Malaysia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A