Relates an interview with "the contemporary sophist" Stanley Fish, where he discusses John Milton, composition theory, and his role as a social constructionist. (PRA)

Argues that the trend in composition scholarship to interrogate how gender, race, ethnicity, and power relationships manifest themselves in discursive practices is, in effect, a move toward the ethical, toward understanding the encounter with the Other. Suggests that postcolonial theory gives composition scholars the vocabulary they need to…

Presents an interview with Jacques Derrida, discussing rhetoric and composition. Describes Derrida's growth as a writer, proposes a model of composition instruction, discusses problems compositionists should avoid, and comments on a range of other topics, including liberatory learning, social constructionism, logocentrism, and feminism. (SR)

Presents an interview with Jean-Francois Lyotard, which provides insight into many concerns, including his views on culture, feminism, postmodernism, and writing. Explains Lyotard's belief that philosophy and inquiry ought to pursue perpetual questions as opposed to "answers" or mastery of a subject. (TB)

Suggests that generational cliches exist, and that it is necessary to redefine both the conception of cliches and pedagogical approaches to them. (MS)

Discusses the theory/antitheory debate in the discipline of rhetoric and composition. Urges refocusing the debate away from the relative value of various modes of inquiry and whether any given theoretical discussion adequately informs pedagogy. Advocates defining the field in its largest context. Maintains that theory empowers the discipline as a…

Suggests that negotiation as a rhetorical strategy can help compositionists rethink the connections between the public sphere and students' writing, and that it can also be a productive way to think of classroom interaction. Brings critical pressure to bear on the concept of negotiation as it has been traditionally conceived and theorized,…

Presents a transcript of an interview with the British logician and philosopher Stephen Toulmin. Covers aspects of his various books. Relates his thoughts to the field of composition studies. (HB)

Presents an interview with postcolonial theorist Homi Bhabha, who sees writing as a highly political activity. Discusses: critical literacy as an essential step toward agency, self-representation, and an effective democracy; the role of postcolonial theory; and cultural difference. (RS)

Presents a transcript of an interview with the American feminist and cultural critic bell hooks. Covers aspects of her various writings. Relates her thought to the field of composition studies. (HB)

Discusses the author's 1991 conference speech that argued that if postmodern discourse has taught us anything, it is that "rhetoric" is at the center of all knowledge making, even in the sciences. Addresses the future of composition as a discipline and whether scholars in the field will position themselves as "enemies" or as "adversaries" in this…

Presents an interview with feminist social critic Donna Haraway about her call for "cyborg writing," writing that replaces the idea of an authoritative or dominant story with an acknowledgment of the wide range of narratives to be told in science, technology, and other areas. Also questions Haraway about activism for academics, particularly as it…

Describes the views and goals of Paulo Freire. Presents an interview with Freire where he discusses his life, works, writing habits, pedagogy, social ideas, research, critical literacy, and other topics. (PRA)

Presents a transcript of an interview with the American literary theorist and cultural critic Jane Tompkins. Covers aspects of her various writings. Relates her thought to the field of English studies. Analyzes recent trends in college English. (HB)

Presents a transcript of an interview with the American literary theorist and cultural critic J. Hillis Miller. Covers aspects of his various writings. Relates his thought to the field of English studies. Analyzes recent trends in college English. (HB)