ME​ET BA​KHTIN!

Meet the author:

 

Hi! My name is Nina Cordes, a graduating senior at the University of Pittsburgh. I am earning a B.A. in English Writing (Fiction) and a B.A. in Communications, in addition to a Children's Literature Certificate. I am fascinated by Bakhtin's exploration, consumption, and acceptance of the 'carnivalesque'. The idea of human and societal liberation from accustomed norms and seriousness proved to be an attractive topic for my cumulative children's literature thesis; thus, this website was born!

 

Through my fabulous course curriculum and extensive experience working in bookstores (3+ years, the majority of which were at a children's bookstore), I have come to find that children's narratives often contain an utterly shocking amount of stealthy yet omnipresent messages (whether they be social or political), critiques, and symbols. Applying literary criticsm (yes, even to picture books) not only helps us understand what theoretical frameworks we are delivering to our children through stories, but also aids us as adults to further relate to our children's texts and interact with the child when reading with him or her.

 

Bakhtin, an extremely complex Russian philosopher, was incredibly entranced with the notion of complete societal liberation and freedom. He was fascinated by the quirky, the out-of-this-world, the silly, and the curious, all of which were found within his place of musing: the medieval carnival. He sought to free his mind and thought from socially constructed constraints, leaving rules open to be challenged, accepted, and refuted. Bakhtin found power in imagination, emancipation, and the absurd; in my opinion, all incredibly powerful messages we need to instill in future generations. Challenging our youth to think creatively, outside the box, and without limits fosters a generation of flexibly minded individuals who, both professionally and personally, will be able to live to their fullest potential. 

 

Bringing Bakhtin and his message of carnivalesque to the attention of children in a relatable, fun, and educational way is what I hope to inspire through these explorations of unique and interesting texts. I hope that if you have a child, you will (if you'd like!) explore this website together with him or her in a way that is engaging and exciting. 

 

Visit me online! www.ninaecordes.wix.com/writer 

 

 

 

SOURCES USED TO CREATE THIS WEBSITE (Including citations of every fabulous book featured): 

 

Lachmann, Renate, Raoul Eshelman, and Marc Davis. "Bakhtin and Carnival: Culture as Counter-Culture." Cultural Critique 11 (1988): 115-52. Print.

 

Bakhtin & Carnivalesque PowerPoint (Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature Lecture)

 

Dahl, Roald. The BFG. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1982. Print.

 

Wiesner, David. Flotsam. New York: Clarion, 2006. Print.

 

Abbott, Tony. The Secrets of Droon: In the City of Dreams. New York: Scholastic, 2009. Print.

 

Carroll, Lewis, and Helen Oxenbury. Alice through the Looking-glass. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 2005. Print.

 

Kohuth, Jane, and Jane Porter. Duck Sock Hop. New York: Dial for Young Readers, 2012. Print.

 

Falconer, Ian. Olivia Forms a Band. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2006. Print.