21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World

I.Critical Approaches to Literature

 Literary Criticism is a way of viewing or interpreting literature by using different lens
(perspectives)
 “Literary criticism” is the name given to works written by experts who critique—analyze—an
author’s work.
 It does NOT mean “to criticize” as in complain or disapprove.
 Literary criticism is often referred to as a “secondary source”.

1. Reader-Response Approach
Reader-Response Criticism asserts that a great deal of meaning in a text lies with how the
reader responds to it.
Focuses on the act of reading and how it affects our perception of meaning in a text
(how we feel at the beginning vs. the end)
Deals more with the process of creating meaning and experiencing a text as we read.
A text is an experience, not an object.
The text is a living thing that lives in the reader’s imagination.
READER + READING SITUATION + TEXT = MEANING
2. Formalist Approach
Formalist Criticism emphasizes the form of a literary work to determine its meaning,
focusing on literary elements and how they work to create meaning.
Examines a text as independent from its time period, social setting, and author’s
background. A text is an independent entity.
Focuses on close readings of texts and analysis of the effects of literary elements and
techniques on the text.
This approach regards literature as “a unique form of human knowledge that needs to
be examined on its own terms. “All the elements necessary for understanding the
work are contained within the work itself. Of particular interest to the formalist critic
are the elements of form—style, structure, tone, imagery, etc.—that are found within
the text. A primary goal for formalist critics is to determine how such elements work
together with the text’s content to shape its effects upon readers.
Sociological Approach
Sociological criticism argues that social contexts (the social environment) must be considered
when analyzing a text. Focuses on the values of a society and how those views are reflected in a
text. Emphasizes the economic, political, and cultural issues within literary texts. Core Belief:
Literature is a reflection of its society.
3. The Marxist Approach
Marxist Criticism emphasizes economic and social conditions. It is based on the
political theory of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Concerned with understanding the role of power, politics, and money in literary texts.
Marxist Criticism examines literature to see how it reflects:
 The way in which dominant groups (elite) exploit the subordinate groups
(typically, the masses)
 The way in which people become alienated from one another through power,
money, and politics
4. Feminist Approach
Feminist Criticism is concerned with the role, position, and influence of women in a
literary text.
Asserts that most “literature” throughout time has been written by men, for men.
Examines the way that the female consciousness is depicted by both male and female
writers.
5. Biographical Approach
argues that we must take an author’s life and background into account when we study
a text.
Facts about an author’s experience can help a reader decide how to interpret a text.
A reader can better appreciate a text by knowing a writer’s struggles or difficulties in
creating that text.
A reader can understand a writer’s preoccupation by studying the way they apply and
modify their own life experiences in their works.
 6. Psychological/ Psychoanalytic Approach
Psychological Criticism views a text as a revelation of its author’s mind and
personality. It is based on the work of Sigmund Freud.
Also focuses on the hidden motivations of literary characters.
Looks at literary characters as a reflection of the writer.
Fundamental figures in psychological criticism include Sigmund Freud, whose
“psychoanalytic theories changed our notions of human behavior by exploring new or
controversial areas like wish-fulfillment, sexuality, the unconscious, and repression”
as well as expanding our understanding of how “language and symbols operate by
demonstrating their ability to reflect unconscious fears or desires”.
7. New Historicist Approach
Provides background information necessary to understand how literary texts were
perceived in their time.
Shows how literary texts reflect ideas and attitudes of the time in which they were
written.
New historicist critics often compare the language in contemporary documents and
literary texts to reveal cultural assumptions and values in the text.
Studying the history reveals more about the text; studying the text reveals more about
the history.

II.FACTS ABOUT CHINA:

1. Ghost marriages are legally binding nuptials in which, one or both parties involved, are dead.
What started it all is an unknown story but, the probable reasons as to why such practice is
encouraged, are mostly to do with societal expectations like- a widow can show her eternal love
for her deceased husband, and families can have their unmarried deceased children marry in
afterlife.
2. They nap just about anywhere, including the rail tracks! Chinese people are very particular about
their afternoon naps (wujiao). In fact, in Chinese schools, a duration of 30 minutes post lunch is
scheduled especially to catch on with some slumber.
3. “Virgin Boy Egg” is a popular Chinese delicacy. Urine of young virgin boys (preferably of age
below 10), is collected from school toilets. For preparation, eggs are soaked and boiled in the
collected urine. The “delicacy” is sold for 1.50 yuan! (8.21 pesos).
4. Single ladies rent boyfriend. In China, for a woman to not get hitched especially around the Lunar
New Year, is considered a social humiliation. And to ward off the nosy relatives and family
pressures, women who are not able to find love, rent one! No more forever alone.
5. When it comes to counterfeiting things, the word “impossible” does not stand a chance here! Yes,
there are fake Apple stores in China. And Mr. Jobs must be frowning from above. But what is
truly shocking is the use of body doubles (ding zui- substitute criminals) to serve prison
sentence on behalf of the actual convicts and, it is common! It is quite a thing amongst the elite
Chinese criminals.
6. Walmart stores in China sell almost “all” kinds of dead animals! Anything that crawls, walks,
flies, hops, swims can be served on plate in China. And Walmart here, understands that Chinese
need variety. So, from frozen crocodiles to perhaps even shark meat, apparently any animal at all
can be found under one roof in China!
7. Children toilet etiquette. The disposable diaper is a relative newcomer to China, introduced in the
early 1990s. Diapers are not popular in China. Most children wear special pants with big hole
bottoms. When they feel they need to make a poo or pee, they just squat, and do it wherever they
want. At first, they were seen as luxury items and mainly used by the wealthy. However, with
increasing income levels and more widespread marketing, disposable diapers are becoming more
popular across all segments of Chinese society.
8. Births restriction. China is the only country in the world where the reproduction is limited. Until
2015, Chinese couples could have only 1 child. For more than a year now, they can have 2
children.
9. While training new soldiers to always keep their chins up, a small, but very sharp pin is placed
facing upwards through their collars.
10. Because of their aggressive nature and keen vision, geese are used as police animals instead of
dogs.
 11. There are cave dwellings called yaodongs in China. 30,000,000 cave-dwellers live in these
dwellings which is more than the entire population of Australia.
12. The great wall was built with only four materials: Soil, stone, sand, brick. It was stuck together by
cement mixed with sticky rice. Sticky rice made the cement sticky to glue the bricks together.
Seriously, sticky rice, TO USE AS CEMENT FOR THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA!
13. The world’s largest mall is in China and its name is New South China Mall.

III.FACTS ABOUT JAPAN:

1. Nippon- the land of the rising sun.
2. Mr. Yuichiro Miura- oldest climber of Mount Everest.
3. Tale of Genji- first Japanese novel which was written by a Japanese noble woman, Murasaki
Shikibu.
4. Animated Japanese films and television series (anime) account for 60% of the world’s
animationbased entertainment.
5. There are almost 130 voice-acting schools in Japan.
6. Geisha means “person of the arts”.
7. Japan is home to many different forms of martial arts.
8. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
9. Japanese gardens are traditional gardens that create miniature idealized landscapes.
10. Origami is the Japanese art of folding papers to create objects or animals.
11. Japanese Tea Ceremony- is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and
presentation of matcha (抹茶), powdered green tea. Three terms: Chanoyu, Sado and Ocha.
12. Japanese Styles
a. Yukata- for men
b. Kimono- women
c. Zori- traditional sandals
13. Japanese Flag- the circle in the middle represents sun. White represents honesty and purity and
the red disc is a sun symbolizing brightness, sincerity and warmth.
14. Religions:
a. Shinto- believes that all living and non-living things contain spirits (kami).
b. Buddhism- arrived in Japan because of cultural diffusion. It divided into different sects,
including Jodo, Shin, Nichiren, and Zen.
c. Confucianism- strong emphasis placed on the principles of filial piety and loyalty to parents.
15. Japanese Writing System:
a. Kanji- ideographs from Chinese characters.
b. Kana- a pair of syllabaries, consisting of:
- Hiragana- used for native Japanese words.
- Katakana- used for foreign loanwords and sometimes to replace kanji or
hiragana for emphasis.
16. Japanese Dramas:
a. Noh Play- the national theatre of Japan, which was originally reserved for nobility.
b. Joruri Play- a puppet play or doll theatre wherein the dolls are beautifully made and life-like
in size.
c. Kabuki- the play for the masses. It is less intellectual and more realistic, even sensational.
17. Japanese Poetry:
a. Tanka- a five-lined poem. The first and third lines have five syllables each and the others
seven, making a total of thirty-one syllables per poem.
b. Haiku- a seventeen-syllable poem of three lines arranged in lines of five-seven-five.

IV.READING APPROACHES
The planned and explicit actions that help readers translate print to meaning; helps improve
readers’ decoding and reading comprehension skills.
a. Skimming- Getting the gist of the text.
 Best used: Known general idea of the text.
In skimming, the main idea of a text is quickly identified. The goal is to read shorter texts to
extract accurate detailed information. Skimming is done at speed three to four times faster than
regular reading. People often skim when they have lots of material to read in a limited amount of
time. Some students will read the first and last paragraphs using headings, summarizes and other
organizers as they move down the page or screen. Some might also read the title, subtitles,
subheadings, and illustrations. Other people consider reading the first sentence of each
paragraph. Skimming works well to find dates, names, and places. It might be used to review
graphs, tables, and charts. This technique is useful when you are seeking specific information
rather than reading for comprehension.
b. Scanning- Simply running the eyes over a text to get some specific points.
Commonly used: For daily, non-academic reading tasks
Scanning is quickly reading a text to get the summary of it. It is a technique wherein students
search for keywords or ideas. Scanning involves moving eyes quickly down the page seeking
specific words and phrases. Scanning is also used for the reader to find answers to questions.
Once a student scanned the document, they will go back and skim it.
c. Intensive Reading- can be understood as the reading method which requires intimate study of a
text with the objective of getting its literary or linguistic meaning. The readers are supposed to
read the text with concentration and due care, in detail, as it has certain learning aims and tasks.
d. Extensive Reading- can be defined as a casual reading performed for pleasure or gaining general
understanding on a topic when the students are engrossed in a book, magazine or newspaper. In
this approach, students read long texts and refer to various supporting study material, only to
enjoy the reading and gaining a better understanding the concept.
Extensive reading is an approach to language learning, including foreign language learning, by means
of a large amount of reading. The readers view and review of unfamiliar words in a specific context
will allow the reader to infer the word’s meaning, to learn unknown words. Extensive Reading is the
free reading of books and other written material that is not too difficult for readers. Extensive
Reading is sometimes called Free Voluntary Reading.

V.DIFFERENTIATING 21ST CENTURY LITERARY GENRES

a. Graphic fiction or a graphic novel is a comic book narrative that is equivalent in form and
dimension to the prose novel (Campbell 200, 81). The pictures are arranged in sequenced in
image panels and dialogues are written in speech bubbles. The illustrations allow the readers to
imagine and experience the characters and events in the story.
Here are some of the features of graphic fiction or graphic novel according to Singh (2012).
1. Autographic forms are the marks of author’s handwriting which creates an impact that the whole
novel is a manuscript and thus provides a sense of intimacy.
2. Graphic novels encourage interactivity in the minds of the reader as he fills in the blanks between
image panels.
3. Filling in the blanks between image panels makes the reader imagine the actions portrayed in the
story.
4. The language, syntax and meaning of a graphic novel spring primarily through the relationship
between images than words.
5. Graphic fiction combines book and screen.

b. Flash fiction is imaginative literature of extreme brevity. It could range from a word to a thousand
(Gacusan 2018). It is known as micro stories, postcard fiction, nanotales and short shorts.
According to Sustana (2020), most of the flash fictions have these common characteristics.
1. Brevity. Flash fiction presents the story with fewest words as possible.
2. Complete plot. Flash fiction emphasizes the development of plot. It has a beginning, middle and
ending of the story.
3. Surprising ending. The successful hallmark of a flash fiction is its twist at the end of the story.
 VI.LITERARY GENRE ON CREATIVE MULTIMEDIA PRESENTATION
Multimedia is an essential avenue to transform unique adaptations of a literary genre, thus, making
learning outputs interesting and productive. To have a creative adaptation of literary genres, the following
concepts have to take into considerations.
1. Multimedia and its Concepts
A multimedia is any electronic application used to teach lessons or to further educate learners on a
particular topic. It is a presentation of material that uses both words and pictures in a combination of text,
voice, picture or video. Using interactive digital tools to tell a story is called digital storytelling and often
uses a combination of multimedia venues to complete the task. The use of multimedia allows educational
ideas and materials to be presented in a more artistic, inspired and engaging way.
2. Uses of Multimedia and its Formats
There are many uses of multimedia for a deeper understanding of a lesson. Audiobooks are ideal for
second-language learners. Song files and music videos can be used to compare social norms in different
eras. Multimedia can offer students a better understanding of the lesson.
The multimedia formats from various media includes: text and graphics for slideshows,
presentations, diagrams and infographics. Audio has podcasts and recordings. Screen captures, lecture
captures and animation are examples of video components of multimedia. Other multimedia components
include blogs, vlogs, webinars and other interactive content.
Multimedia applications include the interaction of different media types like animation, video, text
and sound. It has become a part of our lives as soon as we entered the digital age. Before the modern
technology, there are tools helping us appreciate some of the types of multimedia such as videos on
television. There are various components of multimedia such as:
a. Videos https://www.thejigsaw.in/blog/how-to-make-youtube-videos
Digital video is a primary component in multimedia, especially those that appear online and on
television. The different formats of these types of multimedia include wmv, avi, mped and flash. Some
of these formats are better than others because they load faster and can be viewed or loaded using
different platforms and operating systems. Many videos have changed formats ever since the mobile
phone industry became more advanced in technology. Many of the video formats require plug-ins on
browsers and specific mobile applications to load.
Here is a list of multimedia formats: https://www.w3schools.com/html/html_media.asp

Format File Description

MPEG .mpg .mpeg MPEG. Developed by the
Moving Pictures Expert
Group. The first popular video
format on the web. Not
supported anymore in HTML.
AVI .avi AVI (Audio Video Interleave).
Developed by Microsoft.
Commonly used in video
cameras and TV hardware.
Plays well on Windows
computers, but not in web
browsers.
WMA .wma WMA (Windows Media
Audio). Developed by
Microsoft. Plays well on
Windows computers, but not in
web browsers.
flash swf Flash Video is a container file
(small web file} format used to deliver digital
video content over the Internet
using Adobe Flash Player
version 6 and newer.
MP3 .mp3 MP3 files are actually the
sound part of MPEG files.
MP3 is the most popular
 format for music players.
Combines good compression
(small files) with high quality.
Supported by all browsers.
MP4 .mp4 MP4 is a video format, but can
also be used for audio.
Supported by all browsers.

b. Animation https://www.hitechanimation.com/blog/top-5-animated-character-who-changed-
theface-of-animation-industry/
Animation is a form of art for most people, especially those that are in the business of producing
animated movies. Right now, animation has become interactive, allowing users to directly affect the
outcome of animated components and events. Flash is the most common platform for animation, and
using this component, the interactivity of animation is enhanced.

c. Text http://todo.design/photoshop-tutorial-how-to-make-a-portrait-made-only-of-
Text has always been and will always been the most common among the types of multimedia
components in different applications. Text in combination with other media components can make any
application more user-friendly. By using text, interactivity is increased. Text elements are particularly
important for accessibility purposes. Users of an application need to input text for the system to identify
them. Text is also used to create a digital signature, such as in passwords.

d. Images https://www.ephotozine.com/article/microsoft-windows-xp--review-4338
Digital image files are needed to create videos and animation. A user would sooner go to a website filled
with colourful photographs than one that contains only text elements. Familiar image formats include
jpeg and png. These formats permit editing. Images are created by graphic designers using various
software.

e. Audio https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-audio-waves-microphone-image14394820
Voiceovers comprise a tremendous number of the types of multimedia components. Audio files
include background music and special effects. Any audio in an application is designed to improve
a user’s experience.

3. Characteristic of a Multimedia
• Multimedia can be used in the presentations, making them more fun and interesting.
• A multimedia presentation has various viewing options such as projector or a media player and
the like.
• You can also download the multimedia presentation or play it live.
• The technology of multimedia can also be used to make the information be conveyed more easily
to the user.
• Multimedia technology has improved the learning experience by combining various forms of
media together.
https://www.educba.com/best-free-multimedia-software/

4. Benefits of Using Multimedia

• Digital storytelling allows students to improve their knowledge about a specific subject and
increases skills such as writing, researching and reading.
• Using multimedia improve a learner’s overall academic performance. In particular, multimedia in
the classroom is used for self-directed learning or SDL.
• Students manage their time and assess what needs to be included in their learning activities. This
style of learning is used mostly with older students who already know how to manipulate many of
the multimedia venues available to them. https://classroom.synonym.com/types-multimedia-
classroom-7941275.html

VII. ELEMENTS OF A SHORT STORY:

 1. Character– A character in a short story is a person, in some stories an animal, who takes part in the
action of the story or other literary work. The way an author develops the character in a story is
very important in making the story appeal to the readers. It is said that the heart of the story are
the characters. The two most important characters in a short story are the protagonist and the
antagonist.
 The protagonist is considered as the main character or most important of all the
characters. It is the character who learns something or undergoes some changes
throughout the course of the story. Some stories depict the protagonist as the hero of the
story, while in other stories the protagonist is not considered a hero as he has done
nothing heroic. In any case, the story always revolves around the protagonist.
 The antagonist is the character that challenges the main character. It has no concern for
the well-being of the main character. The antagonist may be a person, the nature, the
society, or any intangible matter that contends with or creates a problem for the
protagonist.
2. Setting– The place (locale) and time (period) when the story happens is called the setting. The
setting may be based on real place and real time or it may also be based on the author’s
imagination. When analyzing the setting of the story, consider where the action is taking place.
Most authors use descriptive words to describe the landscape, scenery, buildings, season, or
weather to provide a strong sense of setting which will help the reader visualize the story and
connect to the story’s plot.
3. Plot– A plot is the actual story. It is what the story is all about. It is also the series of events and
characters’ actions that lead to the highest point of interest in a short story. The following are the
different parts of a story’s structure:
 Exposition –This is the beginning of the story. This is where the author introduces the
characters, identifies where the story is happening, and establishes the main conflict.
 Rising Action–This event occurs as you begin to move throughout the story. This is
where conflicts start to build.
 Climax– It is the most exciting part of a short story. This is the part in the story when
important decisions are made or important things are discovered.
 Falling Action– This point occurs after the climax as the problems in the story start to
work themselves out. The excitement becomes less and less as the conflict is resolved.
 Resolution– This is the solution to the problem in a story. The solution may not be what
you hoped for but as long as it fits the story in tone and theme, the conflict has been
resolved.
4. Conflict– Every story needs to have a problem and this problem is called conflict. The main
character, also called the protagonist, needs to have someone or something to challenge him.
Without conflict, the story will not go anywhere and will not be very interesting to the readers.
The main character may be faced with one of the four different types of conflict. These four types
of conflict are:
 man versus man;
 man versus nature;
 man versus himself; and  man versus society.
5. Theme- This is the central idea in a short story and a general truth. This is considered as the
author’smessage to the readers.
6. Point of View – This is the way the story is told or narrated. It is also known as the vantage point
that a writer uses to narrate the story. The following are the types of point of view in a short story:
a. First Person – the narrator participates in and tells the story using the pronoun ‘I’.
b. Limited Third Person – the narrator is not in the story and narrates using the pronouns
‘she’ or ‘he’. Also, the narrator is unable to see into the minds of the characters.
c. Omniscient Third Person – the narrator is not in the story and tells the story using the
pronouns ‘she’ or ‘he’. In this point of view, the narrator can tell the thoughts of the
characters as he can see into their minds.

VIII.INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY OR ICT

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/24152/information-and-communications-technology-ict
Information and communications technology (ICT) refers to all the technology used to handle
telecommunications, broadcast media, intelligent building management systems, audiovisual
processing and transmission systems, and network-based control and monitoring functions. ICT is
often considered an extended synonym for information technology (IT).
 ICT Skills https://www.thebalancecareers.com/computer-skills-list-2063738
ICT skills are about understanding and applying a range of computer programs, software and
other applications. These include: word processing, spreadsheets, databases, power points and
search engines.
ICT skills are being manifested if you can do the following:
• type / encode your document; bring out your best writing using MS Word- word processor
• manipulate numbers and data for computation; discover and connect to data, analysis using MS
Excel – number processor
• generate slides for presentation; design professional presentations using MS PowerPoint – slide
presentation
• create everything from labels to newswriting and marketing materials using MS Publisher
• Copy(Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) any items from internet – images, video clips, music and be
able to embed them in your outputs
• CITE SOURCE(s) on any imported images, video clips, music ---to avoid plagiarism  Manage
browsing websites
• Save any files with appropriate file formats
• Associate yourself as a Techie person (one who has smart and clever ways of manipulating
computer and other related-gadgets)

Components of ICT http://europeyou.eu/es/what-is-information-and-communication-

The term Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is generally accepted to mean all
technologies that, combined, allow people and organizations to interact in the digital world.