The_Classroom_–_Opening_The_Doors

The Classroom – Opening The Doors By framing her discussion of “contacts zones” with the story of an ancient text representative of a verbal communication, Mary Louise Pratt implies that the most interesting communication is created through a mix of several voices. She describes the “contact zone” as a "social space where cultures meet, clash, and grapple with each other, often in contexts of highly asymmetrical relations of power." (Pratt 584) Pratt suggests that this highly diverse “contact zone” creates a much more interesting and conducive environment rather than a standard, homogeneous group of people. This type of setting is created because those estranged from the dominant group skillfully use the tools of those in the majority in order to create conversation with them. However, when this happens, those among the minority group often restrict themselves or hide their true characteristics to assist them as they interact with the dominant group. As I look back on previous experiences throughout my life, differences in cultural identities have placed me in the midst of various "contact zones," the most recent being in my high school right in the heart of upstate New York. I was subject to witness my African American companion, Darius, darius, pratt, zone, each, classroom, group, dominant, culture, communities, characteristics, within, students, often, community, while, various, values, school, power, place, order, opinions, one, much, minority, interesting, dominated, work, willing, white, voices, virtual, through