What is Miller’s understanding of the self (of the writer) in relation to the text? How’s her conceptualization of that relationship speak to Bazerman’s work?
Miller talks about how you can define yourself through your writing. She says that writing is a way for her to be herself and something she uses to hide behind. I’ve never thought about writing in that way, specifically. Usually, I think of writing as a response or a way to get my ideas and opinions out there. But I like the idea of hiding behind words. It gives you the opportunity to create a new identity, to put yourself into another person’s perspective, change your point of view, etc. It reminds me of a discussion (from another class) about bullying. Since there are so many opportunities for social networking today (to give some popular examples, myspace, facebook, and instant messagers), kids in middle and high schools have used that as a new way to bully others. The people who study this say that it’s because the kids can hide behind their computers, but after reading Miller’s essay, I think that it’s safe to say that they’re hiding behind their words. It’s an interesting concept. I think Miller’s idea of defining yourself through your writing is a bit different from Bazerman’s idea, where external forces play a role in how you write. Though a bit contrasting, I think that both are valid points.