Critical Reflection #4 Prompt: Center vs. Periphery

What?: Briefly recap your understanding of Edward Shils’ model of Center vs. Periphery? What is an example of a Center value in mainstream American culture, and what is an example of the Periphery related to it?

So What?: Do you have another Center of values that you are affected by or can draw from? Please give an example of an alternate Center value that is important in your life, and what the Periphery of that would be like.

Now What?: Does the community you work with have alternate Center(s) of values that people are affected by or can draw from? Look into your SL field notes and impacts from throughout this semester, and find documentations of incidences and quotes (give at least 2) that illuminate what the Center(s) are in the community you work with. What are the implications of these Center values on the people in the community? (Hint: think about whether having multiple Centers further marginalize people, or perhaps help people find strengths/resources to resist marginalization.)