Literature for the Twenty-first Century: Developing Multimodality and Entrepreneurial Skills through Literature-Based Assessments
Melissa Shamini Perry
Kritika Kultura No. 33/34

Main Idea: Ever since the twentieth century, the learning and teaching of literature had the goal of developing communication, language proficiency, as well as reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. At the dawn of the digital twenty-first century environment, literature can be used for developing multi-modality and entrepreneurial skills developed through literary studies and are highly valued in present time.

Evidences: 

• The National University of Malaysia offered a literature course which enabled its students to engage with different literacies in order to learn about various cultures, time periods, sociopolitical and cultural issues, people, and ideas.
• An experiment was made for students to use Shakespeare's Macbeth to design and promote its merchandise. After reading Macbeth, the students had to make use of their creativity and entrepreneurial skills to market the product. The students then successfully demonstrated the multiple modes of learning using the text Macbeth.
• Students had the ability to consume the text in one mode then reproducing and presenting it in other modes showcases creativity and innovation.
• The power of literary pieces can instill creativity among its readers. It became as what Perry said, "a potentially lucrative and financially viable asset for students of all academic backgrounds." (Perry, 2019, p.450)
• Literary studies enabled students from different fields, such as art, commerce, and science departments to experience a holistic education.