Re: A question of selves
Vera P. John-Steiner (vygotsky who-is-at unm.edu)
Thu, 28 Oct 1999 14:45:04 -0600
It seems to me that the selves of which Judy writes are different facets
of the functional system of self. When focusing on a coherent account
of one's life, one aspect of remembered experiences is mobilized. In
conversational contexts an other facet emerges, that of a very immediate
awareness of the otherwith whom one co-constructs utterances, thoughts,
and opinions. These govern the practice of voicing. Audience,
artifacts, purpose all contribute to mobilizing the subset of
possibilities that are part of the dynamics of the "self,
or what Wenger refers to as "identity as a focus of social selfhood."
In my class on collaboration, students speak of the simultaneously
experiencing mutuality and autonomy; they embrace Penuel and Wertsch's
statement about the irreducible tension of the individual and the
social.
Vera
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Vera P. John-Steiner
Department of Linguistics
Humanities Bldg. 526
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277-6353 or 277-4324
Internet: vygotsky who-is-at unm.edu
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