Critical Literacies

Critical literacies have been a part of the literacy research and practice landscapes for decades as one way to work for a more just and equitable world. As literacy continues to evolve with the advent of ubiquitous Internet and communication technologies, new theoretical perspectives and pedagogies have enriched our understanding of the potential of critical literacies to challenge oppression. Critical literacies are purposeful in the interrogation of texts broadly defined to deconstruct underlying power relations in terms of whose interests are served. In this way, critical literacies are fundamentally pedagogical in the design and implementation of social actions whose purpose is to recirculate power in more just and equitable ways.

Critical literacies have been used in schools and out of schools around the world to expose ...