On one of the first days of this class we watched Reba McEntire’s music video for “Is There Life Out There” and discussed it in relation to literacy as a state of grace and what it means to be literate in society. Now, I want to analyze how the video incorporates the idea of sponsors of literacy.
According to Brandt, sponsors of literacy refer to agents that provide resources/encouragement in order to advance a person’s literacy.
In the video, there are both positive and negative sponsors of Reba’s literacy. For example, her professor regulates her literacy (as he teaches her what he thinks she should learn) but also encourages her development in literacy skills. A negative sponsor would be her boss at the diner as she is often held after her shift should end causing her to be late for class; thus, hindering literacy growth. On the other hand, her husband is a positive sponsor of her literacy as he takes care of the housework, children, chores, etc. so she can have time to study and work.
Even Reba herself is a positive sponsor of literacy! For one, she is often shown reading to her daughter; thus, inherently building her daughters reading skills. She also made a music video that sends a message for women to go back to school in order to make a better life; therefore, encouraging all the viewers to read more and enhance their literacy skills.
