Reading as an ideological activity: Appropriation and teaching of literature (what to read and what for)

Abstract

Reading first is an ideological activity, more intricate than the mass media and the School are determined that it is; and the texts are the results of many and different ideological appropriations. To be aware and to pay attention about this become crucial. Why we are just reading that we are reading? Why we have not chosen to read anything different? Which of our resolutions have been really ours in this course of repeated ideological appropriations? Being conscious about this become actually crucial, especially if we want to lead the way of our reading; if we want to star our own reading experience. Because of listening to some music, observing works of art, reading books –per se, without discerning– are not worth; we can even become worse than we were; as reading –or listening to, or looking at– is not a miraculous –or magical– achievement –behaviour–. It depends of how we read some text, and why –or what for– exactly we are just reading this text and not another one.