Irving Epstein - Böcker

This book, first published in 1991, is concerned with educational change. It seeks to place Chinese educational policies within the broader social context of Chinese development and modernisation imperatives by analysing issues germane to specific educational structures and sectors. At the same time, it attempts to inform the reader of larger policy issues which affect the educational system as a whole and speak to more global concerns: the nature of Chinese student activism, gender inequality, rural-urban disparities, educational inequality, the influences of market forces, and the growth of professionalism.

This book, first published in 1991, is concerned with educational change. It seeks to place Chinese educational policies within the broader social context of Chinese development and modernisation imperatives by analysing issues germane to specific educational structures and sectors. At the same time, it attempts to inform the reader of larger policy issues which affect the educational system as a whole and speak to more global concerns: the nature of Chinese student activism, gender inequality, rural-urban disparities, educational inequality, the influences of market forces, and the growth of professionalism.

What does educational policy-making and institutional practice entail in an era of globalization? Global interactions challenge conventional assumptions governing the certainty of geographical boundedness; simplistic notions of citizenship and identity; fixed notions of time, space and movement, and clear distinctions between economic modes of production and consumption. Irving Epstein argues that conventional educational institutions and the policies that support them tend to ignore such anxiety by affirming a belief in educational modernism to the exclusion of other possibilities. What is missing in most of these analyses is an appreciation for the role of affect in determining how our encounters with these practices become significant and how our efforts to find meaning in those policies and practices lead to their acceptance or rejection. This book is the first application of affect theory to comparative education themes and shows how it can help to form a more robust discussion of the policy-making process and the popular reactions to it. After discussing the key concepts associated with affect theory, he presents a total of six case studies. Three of the cases depict relationships between educational, cultural, and social organizations whose purposes conflict with one another but whose presence is indicative of a loss of faith in the efficacy of public schooling. Three of the cases are illustrative of an even greater systematic rejection of educational institutional aim and purpose.

What does educational policy-making and institutional practice entail in an era of globalization? Global interactions challenge conventional assumptions governing the certainty of geographical boundedness; simplistic notions of citizenship and identity; fixed notions of time, space and movement, and clear distinctions between economic modes of production and consumption. Irving Epstein argues that conventional educational institutions and the policies that support them tend to ignore such anxiety by affirming a belief in educational modernism to the exclusion of other possibilities. What is missing in most of these analyses is an appreciation for the role of affect in determining how our encounters with these practices become significant and how our efforts to find meaning in those policies and practices lead to their acceptance or rejection. This book is the first application of affect theory to comparative education themes and shows how it can help to form a more robust discussion of the policy-making process and the popular reactions to it. After discussing the key concepts associated with affect theory, he presents a total of six case studies. Three of the cases depict relationships between educational, cultural, and social organizations whose purposes conflict with one another but whose presence is indicative of a loss of faith in the efficacy of public schooling. Three of the cases are illustrative of an even greater systematic rejection of educational institutional aim and purpose.

What can a study of international film contribute to our understanding of education in a globalized context? How can such an exploration further push the boundaries of comparative and international education (CIE) as an academic field? In addressing these questions, Irving Epstein brings together insights from film theory, affect theory and CIE to explore the ways in which educational meanings are mediated through globalization processes. Some of the many films discussed in detail in the book include Parasite, Small Axe, My Octopus Teacher, The Pearl Button, and A Separation. Epstein shows how films can speak broadly to issues involving social class privilege, racism, colonialism and indigeneity, and environmental justice regarding educational concerns.

What can a study of international film contribute to our understanding of education in a globalized context? How can such an exploration further push the boundaries of comparative and international education (CIE) as an academic field? In addressing these questions, Irving Epstein brings together insights from film theory, affect theory and CIE to explore the ways in which educational meanings are mediated through globalization processes. Some of the many films discussed in detail in the book include Parasite, Small Axe, My Octopus Teacher, The Pearl Button, and A Separation. Epstein shows how films can speak broadly to issues involving social class privilege, racism, colonialism and indigeneity, and environmental justice regarding educational concerns.

In this volume, contributors discuss both the theoretical and practical applications of an embodied knowledge perspective, using the field of education as an exemplar. It should be noted that while the theorists whose writings are discussed in these pages, have made seminal contributions to the sociology of the body literature, it is not possible nor is it our goal to comprehensively review the theoretical discourse of everyone who has written in the area. Our more modest aim is to give our audience a sampling of what some of the important theoretical positions entail. To that end, we turn to the writings of the three social and cultural theorists whose work is given the greatest degree of attention in the volume, Foucault, Bourdieu, and Butler, and will briefly summarize their views.