Defense Preface (I’m doing a rather long “prelude” of sorts, one that answers some very pressing questions that come up with this topic, so this will be a part of it, surely, but it won’t necessarily be the whole thing.):

The “Southern Belle” trope is, for some, their only understanding of Southern women. It is so often an untried perception, one that fully excludes those who fall outside of set standards of race, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. The South, or rather the cultural South, is an incredibly diverse place, but the homogenization of society put forth by the current understanding of what (not who, what) a Southern woman is simply irresponsible. It is a complete disservice to all women, no matter their situation. This project seeks not to edit the current bounds of what makes Southern womanhood what it is, but to burn them and build from their remains something that is not a label, but a way of life. It seeks not to prescribe womanhood or to lay out a distinct definition of what Southern women must be, but to create a collective understanding based upon lived experience. It seeks not to say what Southern women must be, but who they are. “What is that definition?” one may ask. Well…I implore you read and find out.

What Did I Learn?:

Looking back onto this course, I find that my perception of writing that creates, or seeks to create, social change has broadened. I remember being a sophomore in high school, looking through spoken work pieces on the Button Poetry YouTube channel and thinking “this is how we change the world.” However, after reading works like “38” or “This Land” by Layli Long Soldier and Boyer’s The Undying, I see that there is great diversity in the ways in which these goals can be a. presented, and b. carried out. It doesn’t have to be loud or aggressive, nor does it have to be elegant and subdued; in fact, it can be both! There’s no right way to tell a story. Language and formatting and imagery all have such important impacts on writing that influences social change and, after finishing this class, I know that.

Question:

Are there any limits to writing’s ability to create social change? Are there limits to its presentation? Are there limits at all?