What is happening to writing?
When we consider the materiality or immateriality of print books vs. digital books, we reach certain conclusions about how writing is changing in this digital, hypertextual, hypermedia age. Jay David Bolter and his book Writing Space does an interesting job examining the structural and historical shift occurring in this “late age of print.” Bolter discusses the changes in writing and digital media, its history, and predictions of its future.
There are several aspects of new and existing media that is changing. In addition, writing as a print and as a technology itself is also continuing to change. Jay David Bolter is the author of a book titled Writing Space: Computers, Hypertext, and the Remediation of Print. Being a writer himself, Bolter is extremely caught up in the fact that technology has taken such a drastic turn in society. With his smug attitude, he thinks that there is no future for printed text. Printed text will always find its way in the world. It will always be necessary and convenient in some way. It may not be so religious to have books printed on paper anymore, but printed text will find its own way to be important and of such value. Technology may be blooming to be a sense of life, but no matter who you are, printed text will be a reminder of where we came from and will be valued for all eternity. Like I have said in my online blog, technology is just a simpler and easier way for people to get things done. It shows how lazy a society we have become. Bolter is thinking from a writer’s point of view, so he seems somewhat let down with how far we have come from the printing press, and how printed text was so valued in the past. Where as now technology is overtaking that value printed text once possessed. It will always find its way in society no matter how far technology grows. Bolter is too negative and pessimistic for me. I can understand where he's coming from, I just feel he can go a different way about it.
To some, a picture can be worth a thousand words. Giving a different meaning than words on a blank page. Adding texture, color, shape, and the ability to have an imagination. Images have come a long way throughout history. Whether they’re digital, in a frame, or on a canvas they provide viewers with a feeling rather than a definition. Although, when reading written text, some develop a sense of imagination to go along with the words. Like a picture drawn in their imagination. Ekphrasis is the graphic, often dramatic description of a visual work of art. In ancient times it referred to a description of any thing, person, or experience. The goal of this literary form is to make the reader envision the object described as if it were a physically present object. In many cases, however, the object never actually existed, making the description somewhat of a demonstration of both the creative imagination and the skills the writer has.
Technology has given individuals the opportunity to view historical pieces of art on the Internet, if the inability to view it in person gets in the way. In my own personal opinion, I feel it should be viewed in person, but the default option is the next best opportunity. Most novels don’t come with images. Therefore, Digital media is the next best thing in line. As Bolter states, "Digital media claims to achieve greater immediacy and authenticity by integrating images, verbal text constrains the images on the printed page." (pg.47) In addition, a large variety of novels have been made into films, and still continuing to today. Showing that difference to viewers, between reading and thinking, and viewing, imagining, and believing. Similar to the saying, “Seeing is believing”. “The relationship between popular films and novels is further proof that the visual is now regarded as primary...in the case that novels were made into films" (Bolter pg.56)
Many forms of printed text are now using modes of textual and visual representation. An example is a graph used in USA Today presented in Writing Space. Showing how images have made their way into simple graphs to give deeper meaning to what is being presented. This example is a graph used in the text on page 53, demonstrating men shaving. Instead of a standard bar graph, razors are illustrated as the standardly used bars, giving the reader a deeper understanding. “The shaving man himself also has no function in the graph. His presence transforms the graph into a picture…” (Bolter pg.53) Thus showing how visual images have now added representation into statistical forms.
I am not much of a reader. When I read, I tend to get lost in the words and my mind travels somewhere else. I am a very visual person. I am more capable of remembering something that is visual, rather than something read.
Our true history is in the hands of printed text. If it wasn’t for printed text we would have no proof of our worlds past, where we came from, and what we have accomplished to get where we are today. For example, ancient manuscripts and the bible, both telling us how our world has come to be. BUT when you think about it, what did we do when words didn’t exist? In ancient times, cavemen used hieroglyphics to illustrate the world around them, whether it be animals, weather and climate changes, or even life and death. Both Printed text and visual texts play a huge role in our worlds communication. We depend and rely on them greatly, whereas without them, there would be hardly any communication. No matter the degree at which technology is progressing, I feel that printed text will always serve just as much of a purpose to us, in one way or another. "Print today is continuing to remake itself in order to maintain its claim to represent reality as effectively as digital and other visual technology" (Bolter pg.47)
I may not be much of a reader but I definitely respect printed text. There are texts that have made it hundreds of years and still exist today. For example, the Declaration of Independence and the Diary of Anne Frank. Both in which are irreplaceable and forever recognizable pieces of the past and present. The declaration represents the United States and where it stands today. The Diary of Anne Frank reminds us of the struggles we once faced and are currently facing today, through the eyes of an innocent little girl. Both powerful printed texts that survived through war. These printed treasures are teaching us that history can provide a message that is still relevant to today.
No matter the distance in differences between visual and printed text, they do at times come together as one. As Bolter expresses, "Text is by no means absent from digital media"(pg72) To view digital media, it is a fact, that the first process you have to take is type words, followed by reading words to get where you need to go. Regardless of the pictures and graphics that may surround them. Therefore, printed and visual media joins together. When we consider the materiality or immateriality of print books vs. digital books, we certainly can reach conclusions about how writing is changing. Jay David Bolter and his novel Writing Space does an interesting job examining the historical and structural shift occurring in this “late age of print.”
Works Cited:
Bolter, J. David. Writing Space: Computers, Hypertext, and
the Remediation of Print. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001. Print.
