My conviction that we should conceptualize knowledges in the plural, and that the interchange of those knowledges is crucial to many endeavours remains as strong as ever.  However, six months after beginning to blog (first on Knowledges Exchange and now on Knowledges Interchange) I now know that it is not easy to engage in dialogue around these concepts.  I was told by a young colleague recently that there is no such word as knowledges.  I addressed this in one of my first blog entries: http://knowledgesinterchange.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/is-knowledges-a-typo/

So what is it about my attempts to “teach” this new paradigm that have caused them to be unsuccessful?  First of all, the loud sound of knowledge (in the singular) is deafening, and people cannot hear my subtle use of knowledges in the plural.  I am irritated at myself for not publishing and presenting more, so that I reach a wider audience who are tuned in better to my message. To extend the sound metaphor, I seem to be on a different frequency from others, so it’s no wonder I’m not being heard.

But is it as simple as that?  Are there other factors that are causing barriers as I seek to help people understand what I am trying to say?

For one thing, I’m talking a different language.  Most of my listeners do not recognize the language of critical theory, and its extension to critical pedagogy. I believe that is because their culturalization makes them accept a cognitive framework grounded in the belief that there is one overarching body of knowledge.