Ivor Goodson and Scherto Gill analyse and discuss a series of trans-disciplinary case studies from diverse cultures and argue that narrative is not only a rich and profound way for humans to make sense of their lives, but also in itself a process of pedagogical encounter, learning and transformation. As pedagogic sites, life narratives allow the individual to critically examine their scripts for learning which are encapsulated in their thought processes, discourses, beliefs and values. Goodson and Gill show how narratives can help educators and students shift from a disenfranchised tradition to one of empowerment. This unique book brings together case studies of life narratives as an approach to learning and meaning-making in different disciplines and cultural settings, including teacher education, adult learning, (auto)biographical writing, psychotherapy, intercultural learning and community development. Educators, researchers and practitioners from diverse disciplines will find the case studies collected in this book helpful in expanding their understanding of the potential of narrative as a phenomenon, as methodology, and as pedagogy.
Introduction PART ONE: MAPPING THE LANDSCAPE FOR CRITICAL NARRATIVE Chapter One: Mapping the Field of Critical Narrative by S. R. Gill Chapter Two: Reframing the Critical by S. R. Gill Chapter Three: Critical Narrative as Pedagogy by S. R. Gill PART TWO: INDIVIDUAL AUTOBIOGRAPHIES AS CRITICAL NARRATIVE Chapter Four: Ancestral Voices by I. F. Goodson Chapter Five: Defining the Self through Autobiographical Memory by I. F. Goodson Chapter Six: Developing Life Themes by I. F. Goodson PART THREE: CRITICAL NARRATIVE IN DIVERSE LEARNING CONTEXTS Chapter Seven: From Demonising to Humanising: Transforming Memories of Violence to Stories of Peace by S. R. Gill Chapter Eight: The Healing Power of Narrative - Learning from Listening and Telling Our Stories by S. R. Gill with M. Cantacuzino, D. Grant and P. Miles Chapter Nine: Biographical learning - Critical dialogue and praxis by S. R. Gill Bibliography Index