Richard Ohmann's The Function Of English At The Present Time

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In “The Function of English at the Present Time,” Richard Ohmann assesses the current state of the studies of English and the humanities in modern capitalist society. Ohmann claims that the current stagnation in our capitalist society has growth and improvement in society. Instead, classes have become more defined. The study of the humanities and English has both adapted to this system and furthered the divisions between classes. His argument connects the stagnating job market to the study of English and the humanities in order to highlight the class system of society, which he believes is becoming even more defined. Ohmann’s support his argument with his observation that the university system’s current system has a homogenizing effect on its students that fashions them for modern society. He specially points out the study of humanities and English as guilty of this type of conditioning for capitalist society because they have “helped to inculcate the discipline—punctuality, good verbal manners, submission to authority, attention to problem-solving assignments set by somebody else, long hours spent in one place—that is necessary to perform the alienated labor that will be the lot of most” (Ohmann 91). He believes that this fosters a false feeling of equality among students, an equality that he seems to believe is impossible in university today. He furthers his argument about a false sense of equality by referencing the different approach to studies among students of

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