I reviewed an English curriculum for a school today. The query was about avoiding the single story narrative around race because of texts such as OMAM, the Sign of Four and Othello. What came out of it? Thread #teamenglish

1/ the representations of race were very single story. Characters of colour were victims, marginalised, stereotypes, criminalised and colonialised (The Tempest for example) #teamenglish

2/ Eng depts can’t just throw out texts - not practical. How we contextualise problematic representations in a proper discussion about race and identity is what counts to balance the single story narratives around race. #teamenglish

3/ There really does need to be space for contemporary fiction in a literature curriculum. At least you can have some positive representation through modern texts. #teamenglish

4/ What was just as problematic was the representation of women. Antigone - dies, Juliet - dies, Curly’s wife - no name, dies. Abigail Williams - spiteful, Eva Smith - dies, and to finish off Lady Macbeth - evil then dies. #teamenglish

5/ So the upshot is, when you are designing an English curriculum, can we have some women in it that aren’t evil, and survive/prosper? #teamenglish