Mark Edmundson's Analysis

People are taught how to read at a young age. They progress through school learning various techniques to help read the material more efficiently. One way is learning to how critique their assigned readings, and helps the young adults develop a better understanding of the text. A student assists their reading skills this way, because they are now able to apply different applications to the text. This opens their minds to understand different ways to interpret the reading rather than just form an opinion, which is important because not every child is taught how to read in the same school or under the same level of criticism. The concept of having a “critical lens” is what is said to have been taught to students for reading, and is what Mark Edmundson has taken an issue with. Mr. Edmundson believes that teachers should simply just assign a reading, rather than attempt to teach them more critical ways to interpret a reading. …show more content…
Whether Mark Edmundson or others alike him realize it, teachers are still going to teach through their critical lens. It is something that is going to be impossible for anyone to change. Edmundson even applies his critical lens to the schools of criticism that he does not agree with. For example, he states “By a reading, I mean the application of an analytical vocabulary- Marx’s, Freud’s, Foucault’s, Derrida’s, or whoever’s- to describe and to judge a work of literary art” (1). Using the formalist school of criticism, he is trying to denounce the importance of intertextual school of criticism. He does not want people to criticize reading, but it is still a part of the education system, and that it would be extremely hard to change. Teaching to add a critical lens when reading is essential in schools. The teachers influence on a young student’s growth is key, because they are now able to share different perspectives based on the critical lens concept they are