Critical Content Analysis of Postcolonial Texts: Representations of Muslims Within Children's and Adolescent Literature

Critical Content Analysis of Postcolonial Texts: Representations of Muslims within Children's and Adolescent Literature Item Type text; Electronic Dissertation Authors Raina, Seemin Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 30/09/2021 16:50:35 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194400 CRITICAL CONTENT ANALYSIS OF POSTCOLONIAL TEXTS: REPRESENTATIONS OF MUSLIMS WITHIN CHILDREN’S AND ADOLESCENT LITERATURE by Seemin A. Raina ______________________ Copyright © Seemin A. Raina 2009 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE, READING, AND CULTURE In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2009 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the dissertation committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Seemin A. Raina entitled Critical Content Analysis of Postcolonial Texts: Representations of Muslims within Children’s and Adolescent Literature and recommend that it should be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dr. Kathy Short Date: July 22 nd 2009 Dr. Perry Gilmore Date: July 22 nd 2009 Dr. David Betts Date: July 22 nd 2009 Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate’s submission of the final copies of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. Dissertation Director: Dr. Kathy Short Date: September 30 th 2009 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the library. Brief quotations from this dissertation are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: Seemin A. Raina 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Many people have helped me go through and finish my doctoral program and specifically this study. I do not think that I could have grown and matured academically without the help of Dr. Kathy Short who has always been there for me whenever I needed her. Her thoughtful and thought provoking suggestions and directions have kept me on task and have challenged me to think, reflect and then act and to find my own voice within my praxis. Her encouraging words and remarks will always be remembered. I need to articulate my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for Dr. Perry Gilmore’s comments, suggestions, and questions, which have formed the guidelines of my work. I also need to thank Dr. David Betts for his guidance, encouragement, and support. I am grateful to my family who has encouraged and supported me throughout my studies. I need to especially thank my youngest son, Hammad, who was a particularly valuable companion for intellectual exchange of ideas. 5 DEDICATION To Abu and Ami Aziz Ahmad & Tahura Khanum They are a part of me never apart from me. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. 9 LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... 11 ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 14 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 15 Personal Position ........................................................................................................... 15 Impact of Previous Personal Research on the Topic .................................................... 16 Theoretical Rationale .................................................................................................... 20 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 26 Overview of Chapters ................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 29 ‘Culturally Conscious’ Studies that use Content Analyses .......................................... 29 Significance of Authenticity/Accuracy and Insider/Outsider Perspectives .................. 40 Authors as ‘Image Makers’ and the Author’s Social Responsibility ............................ 45 Issues of Social Justice ................................................................................................. 48 Multicultural Education and Children’s Literature about Middle East in the U.S. ................................................................................................................... 50 Middle Eastern Regions Mentioned in the Books ........................................................ 53 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 55 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................... 56 Content Analysis as a Methodology ............................................................................. 57 The ‘Critical’ in Content Analysis ................................................................................ 62 Outline of Methodology ................................................................................................ 64 The Criteria for Choosing the Books ............................................................................ 64 Procedure and Process of Data Analysis ...................................................................... 66 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................ 70 Annotated Bibliography: Novels .................................................................................. 72 Annotated Bibliography: Picture Books ....................................................................... 78 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 83 CHAPTER 4 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WRITERS AND THE WRITTEN ......... 84 Dates of Publication ...................................................................................................... 85 Gender of Main Character ............................................................................................ 86 Settings of the Books .................................................................................................... 87 Major Topics/Themes ................................................................................................... 89 Background of the Author/Illustrator/Translator .......................................................... 91 Sustained Contact with Muslims .............................................................................. 93 Research .................................................................................................................... 95 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS - Continued Page Insiders to Muslim Cultures ...................................................................................... 98 Belongs to the Region ........................................................................................... 98 Immigrated ............................................................................................................ 99 Patterns in Book Awards ............................................................................................ 100 Definitions and Explanation of the Genres ................................................................. 105 Contemporary Realistic Fiction (CRF) ................................................................... 105 Biography (BIO) ..................................................................................................... 110 Historical Fiction (HF) ............................................................................................ 112 Books Representing Muslims set within the English Speaking Countries ................. 113 Patterns in Books set in the West ............................................................................ 113 Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 116 CHAPTER 5 REPRESENTATIONS OF MUSLIMS .................................................... 119 Seminal Research by Rudine Sims Bishop and its Relevance to this Study .............. 120 Social Conscience Books ........................................................................................ 120 Melting Pot Books .................................................................................................

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