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University drops sonnets because they are ‘products of white western culture’
The College Fix ^ | May 18, 2022 | Margaret Kelly

Posted on 05/20/2022 7:29:28 AM PDT by grundle

The form has appealed to major poets for five centuries

The University of Salford, a public university in Greater Manchester, England, removed sonnets and other “pre-established literary forms” from a creative writing course assessment, The Telegraph reported.

Course leaders of a creative writing module titled “Writing Poetry in the Twenty-First Century,” removed an exam section that required students to write the traditional forms, including sestinas and sonnets, according to the newspaper.

The sonnet, a poetic form that likely originated in Italy in the 13th century, has been taken up by writers such as Petrarch, Shakespeare and John Donne, according to Britannica.

“The sonnet is unique among poetic forms in Western literature in that it has retained its appeal for major poets for five centuries,” the encyclopedia stated.

A University of Salford slideshow shared with staff stated that teachers have “simplified the assessment offering choice to write thematically rather than to fit into pre-established literary forms…which tend to the products of white western culture,” according to documents cited by The Telegraph.

The slideshow affirmed the change as an example of best practice in “decolonising the curriculum.” The Telegraph defined “decolonising” as “a term used to describe refocusing curricula away from historically dominant Western material and viewpoints.”

Instead, the course will incorporate “inclusive criteria” that better “reflect and cater for a diverse society,” according to internal training materials review by The Telegraph. The materials also showed that the courses could be upgraded by utilizing “a choice of assessment methods” allowing students to be tested “in a way that suits them.”

British historian: assuming sonnets alienate non-white students is ‘hugely patronising’

The Telegraph quoted Oxford-trained historian Zareer Masani’s statement that the course overhaul was “outrageous.”

“It is hugely patronising to assume non-White students would be put off by Western poetic forms,” he said. “Poetic forms vary widely across the world, but good poetry is universal.”

Scott Thurston, leader of the creative writing program at Salford, said the course was “often updated to take account of new trends and development in contemporary writing,” according to The Telegraph.

Thurston said that teachers would still instruct creative writing students in traditional forms in their first year and give them exercises in writing them. However, the curriculum would also include creative experimentation with students’ “own forms.”


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To: grundle

The Decadence of Western Civilization is a very serious disease.


21 posted on 05/20/2022 7:47:09 AM PDT by Savage Beast (Saints are sinners who never gave up. --St. Theresa of Avila)
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To: grundle

So we’re replacing sonnets with eubonics now. How lovely. Shall I compare thee to a summer day where weaves get snatched off and then blow away.


22 posted on 05/20/2022 7:52:01 AM PDT by Quilla
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To: Quilla

I propose they just eliminate EVERYTHING that a white person ever created or invented. On your mark, get set, GO!!


23 posted on 05/20/2022 8:03:16 AM PDT by dkGba
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To: grundle

Rhyme itself is a western construct developed in the Middle Ages


24 posted on 05/20/2022 8:09:18 AM PDT by Ge0ffrey
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To: allendale

The left is committing suicide. They can’t be talked out if it.


25 posted on 05/20/2022 8:10:30 AM PDT by Ge0ffrey
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To: grundle

They can replace sonnet courses with courses in jungle drums.


26 posted on 05/20/2022 8:12:46 AM PDT by cymbeline
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To: grundle

I see that as a society we are right back to book burnings. Gee we’ve come such a long way!


27 posted on 05/20/2022 8:14:41 AM PDT by Bob434 (.)
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To: Pilgrim's Progress
Should white folks stop lisnin’ to Motown because it is mostly the production of black folk?

No, but I guess that it will soon be demanded that Whites pay a "surcharge" for the privilege!

Regards,

28 posted on 05/20/2022 8:15:12 AM PDT by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: Quilla

“Shall I compare thee to a summer day,
where I put a cap up yo ass,
and blow you away.”


29 posted on 05/20/2022 8:15:20 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: grundle

We must also end
Cultural propriatin’
Of Japan’s haiku.


30 posted on 05/20/2022 8:17:39 AM PDT by Colinsky
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To: SMARTY

They want to take us back to living in caves and sitting around picking lice out of our hair
= = =

That is almost a Haiku.


31 posted on 05/20/2022 8:27:05 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (My /s is more true than your /science (or you might mean /seance)gg g)
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To: grundle

Manchester.

Nuff said.


32 posted on 05/20/2022 8:28:39 AM PDT by mewzilla (We need to repeal RCV wherever it's in use and go back to dumb voting machines.)
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To: grundle

The core problem is equating “White” with “something evil to be erased”.


33 posted on 05/20/2022 8:38:43 AM PDT by Arcadian Empire (The Baric-Daszak-Fauci spike protein, by itself, is deadly.)
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To: grundle

Willie Shakespeare was a racist.


34 posted on 05/20/2022 8:53:07 AM PDT by Graybeard58
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To: grundle

Bookmark


35 posted on 05/20/2022 9:04:58 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: grundle

But gangsta rap be jus fine.


36 posted on 05/20/2022 9:11:24 AM PDT by showme_the_Glory (No more rhyming, and I mean it.........)
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To: BipolarBob

Welfare is mostly paid by white people who work. They should outlaw welfare.


37 posted on 05/20/2022 9:19:56 AM PDT by oldasrocks
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To: struggle
That poem is a bit haunting!

Too bad many of the Harlem Renaissance turned commies, & this guy? Was bisexual.

I was just reading about Zora Neale Hurston & Eatonville, FL. You should check it out!

38 posted on 05/20/2022 9:38:57 AM PDT by spankalib
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To: grundle

They should drop electric lights while they’re at it.


39 posted on 05/20/2022 10:11:48 AM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Militia to the border! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: grundle

Not a fan of poetry, except Limericks.

There once was a maid from Madras
who had a remarkable ass
Not rounded and pink, as you probably think
it was gray, had long ears and ate grass.


40 posted on 05/20/2022 10:14:25 AM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Militia to the border! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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