Against the epistemicide. Itinerant curriculum theory and the reiteration of an epistemology of liberation

João M. Paraskeva*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

4 Citations (Scopus)
24 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Echoing Ettore Scola metaphor “Bruti, Sporchi & Cativi”, this chapter challenges how hegemonic and specific (or so called) counter hegemonic curriculum platforms – so connected with Western Eurocentric Modernity – have been able to colonize the field without any prudency to “fabricate” and impose a classed, raced and gendered philosophy of praxis, as unique, that drives the field to an ideological surrealism and collective suicide. Such collective suicide framed by a theoretical timesharing unleashed by both dominant and specific counter dominant platforms that tenaciously controlled the circuits of cultural production grooms the field as a ghetto, flooded with rudeness, and miserable ambitions, a theoretical caliphate that wipes out any episteme beyond the Western Eurocentric Modern terrain, insolently droving to sewage of society the needs and desires of students, teachers and the community.

Drawing from key decolonial thinkers, this chapter examines the way Western eugenic curriculum of modernity created an abyssal thinking in which ‘this side’ of the line is legitimate and ‘the other side’ has been produced as ‘non-existent’ (Sousa Santos B, Another knowledge is possible. Verso, London, 2007). The paper suggests the need to move a post-abyssal curriculum that challenges dominant and counter dominant traditions within ‘this side’ of the line, and respects ‘the other’ side of the line. The paper challenges curriculum studies to assume a non-abyssal position one that respects epistemological diversity. This requires an Itinerant Curriculum Theory (Paraskeva JM, Conflicts in curriculum theory: Challenging hegemonic epistemologies. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2011), which is a commitment and a ruthless epistemological critique of every existing epistemology.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBridging Educational Leadership, Curriculum Theory and Didaktik
Subtitle of host publicationNon-affirmative Theory of Education
EditorsMichael Uljens, Rose M. Ylimaki
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer International Publishing AG
Chapter4
Pages199-213
Number of pages15
ISBN (Electronic)9783319586502
ISBN (Print)9783319586489, 9783319864464
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Oct 2017

Publication series

NameEducational Governance Research
Volume5
ISSN (Print)2365-9548
ISSN (Electronic)2365-9556

Keywords

  • curriculum theory
  • epistemological diversity
  • praxis
  • curriculum platforms
  • post-abyssal curriculum

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