I found Inman's discussion of Lyodard's concept of the narrative fascinating. So many of us do measure ourselves against some kind of master narrative - like the traditional American dream. In doing so, we often find it difficult to measure up to this Mythic measure of success, and we also sometimes fail to think critically about what the consequences - both good and bad - of that kind of success are. Those who stumble on the path or become occupied in some specific aspect of life along the way are often marginalized, left in the dust of those who push forward towards syncing up with the great master narrative, comforting themselves with the knowledge that they have yet to stumble; they are still making headway toward success.
I think Inman's use of the post-modern little narrative in understanding the community of computers and composition really a healthy move. He is right in saying that the community should not be understood in monolithic terms; it is entirely too diverse and complicated for this kind of definition. Looking at the community as a network of small units allows us to see individual contributions to the community as the success stories they really are. I also think Inman is right when he acknowledges that to use a master narrative as a comparative measure of worth in computers in writing is unrealistic. The community is too broad and expansive for anything to really measure up this kind of narrative. It seems that any attempts to do so might only result in research that is so diffuse that it would lose any value to any specific area of computers and composition. Using little narratives as the measuring stick encourages people to do research on the things they are interested in. Little narratives allow for one's research to have a place to be noticed, a place where it can really make a difference no matter how specific it might be. I think this kind of dynamic and interactive approach to a scholarly community will result in a kind of authentic success that will really do the community and its participants
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Joe,
I agree with you (and Inmann) completely in terms of the little narratives that allow us to grow as a field and find (and contribute) to our own niches or interests. I wonder how little narratives play into aspects of tenure, promotion, recognition if the "master narratives" are the ones being recognized. Are we destined to be considered those eccentric scholars who are doing their own thing or can we "mainstream" without "mainstreaming" or losing our sense of identity (and little narratives)?
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