Brian Street

Brian Street

Brian Street was a prominent British anthropologist and academic known for his influential work in the field of literacy studies. He was a key figure in the development of the New Literacy Studies (NLS), which emphasizes the social and cultural contexts of literacy practices.

Early Life and Education

Brian Street was born in 1943 in England. He pursued his higher education at the University of Oxford, where he developed an interest in anthropology and linguistics. His academic journey led him to explore the intersections of language, culture, and education.

Academic Career

Street began his academic career as a lecturer in anthropology at the University of Sussex. His work focused on the ethnographic study of literacy, challenging traditional views that considered literacy as a neutral, technical skill. Instead, Street argued that literacy is a social practice that varies across different cultural contexts.

Contributions to Literacy Studies

Street's most notable contribution is his development of the concept of "literacy as social practice." This perspective highlights that literacy cannot be understood solely as the ability to read and write but must be seen in relation to the social and cultural practices that surround it. His book, "Literacy in Theory and Practice," published in 1984, is a seminal work that laid the foundation for the New Literacy Studies.

Street's research demonstrated that literacy practices are embedded in power relations and are influenced by cultural norms and values. He conducted extensive fieldwork in Iran, where he studied the literacy practices of local communities, providing empirical evidence for his theoretical claims.

New Literacy Studies

The New Literacy Studies (NLS) is an interdisciplinary field that emerged from Street's work and the contributions of other scholars. NLS challenges the autonomous model of literacy, which views literacy as a set of universal skills. Instead, it adopts an ideological model that considers the diverse ways in which literacy is practiced and understood in different societies.

Street's work has influenced educational policies and practices, encouraging educators to consider the cultural and social dimensions of literacy in their teaching.

Legacy

Brian Street passed away in 2017, leaving behind a rich legacy of scholarship that continues to influence researchers and educators worldwide. His work has inspired a generation of scholars to explore the complexities of literacy and its role in society.

Also see

• Literacy
• New Literacy Studies
• Anthropology of Education
• Ethnography