Interesting perspective. I think many academics as well as secondary school teachers would like, indeed, to abolish the canon rather than democratize it. I have heard, from my perch in North America, far more calls for abolition than for democratization. As for Atwood, I think that her work, especially The Handmaid's Tale, is well on its way to becoming canonical itself. (At least I hope so.)
Gary, sometimes I think it’s just easier to be reactionary and extremist than actually engage in difficult critical conversations. I think abolishing the canon is just lazy at its core. People seem to be incapable of understanding nuance these days.
Interesting perspective. I think many academics as well as secondary school teachers would like, indeed, to abolish the canon rather than democratize it. I have heard, from my perch in North America, far more calls for abolition than for democratization. As for Atwood, I think that her work, especially The Handmaid's Tale, is well on its way to becoming canonical itself. (At least I hope so.)
Gary, sometimes I think it’s just easier to be reactionary and extremist than actually engage in difficult critical conversations. I think abolishing the canon is just lazy at its core. People seem to be incapable of understanding nuance these days.