Week 9 Essay Option 3: Future of Written Media

Future of Written Media

 For this week's essay, I am going to write about the future of writing and my thoughts on what that future might look like.
      Personally, I am a bit more old school and I like reading things on paper.  While that might be destroying the rainforests or whatever, I cannot sit down and read something on a screen for a long period of time, it just doesn't feel right.  Of course, I am slightly biased because I have only used a tablet not really designed for specifically reading and I have never read anything at length on a Kindle or anything similar.  Also, it's not where my eyes hurt, I have spent many hours playing video games staring directly into a computer screen, I just think that paper is the perfect medium for reading.  The best comparison I could make would be comparing a steak grilled outside on a grill compared to inside on a George Foreman grill.  Both do the same job and the George Foreman grill is more efficient, but there is something about a steak cooked over flames.

 Stone Tablets.  Web Source:  New Scientist

   However, I cannot discredit the movement of written media from paper to screen.  Its just another step in the evolution of communication.  I could almost image someone griping about getting rid of oral tradition and writing things down on paper.  There are still oral stories, they didn't disappear with the times.  I believe that its just another way to read, communicate, learn, etc.  In fact, I believe that news is the one media source that will benefit the most from the addition of digital technology.  News spreads so much farther and quicker now that we have this form of communication, and we don't waste nearly as much paper since there is less need for daily papers.
   Lastly, I believe that the conversion of books to digital data is a necessary movement.  The amount of data, media, and literature humanity has been compiling in the past century is staggering.  While I can't remember the source, I remember hearing a factoid that human knowledge is exponentially growing at an insane pace.  Therefore, to stay relevant and informed, it is so much easier to carry a laptop that can access thousands of libraries of information just like that.  If I had to carry the equivalent amount of literature that a Kindle can hold in the form of books, it would be at least 12,000 lbs. based on an average hardcover book weight of two pounds.
    In conclusion, while I prefer to read on paper and I believe that many other people do, written media's transference to a digital platform is extremely convenient.  I believe that books will not be eliminated but instead they will be supplemented by digital writing.

Week 9 Reading Diary: Native American Hero Tales

Myth-Folkore Unit:  Native American Hero Tales

1. The Jealous Uncle-  I like how instead of addressing the problem that the uncle was a murderer and getting rid of him, they decide to let him continue being around. 

2. The Jealous Uncle (cont.)-  The story reminds me of one of the readings I did for the African section, where the baby continuously outwitted the mother and troll.  The child also reminds me a bit of Jesus in the gospels, when he comes back to find his disciples asleep.

3. The Jealous Uncle (end)-  A fitting conclusion to the story since the boy gave the uncle the same chance at life that he had.  I thought it was funny when he said he put on his eagle skin and hardened his eagle heart, for some reason the wording of that is amusing.

4. Bluejay and His Companions-  The name choices are a little confusing since usually animals are called by their name in the story but in this one men are named after animals. This is an interesting story because usually heroes are likeable characters but I do not like Bluejay at all.  I also find its funny that the other companion isn't name, almost like the token character that is killed off immediately at the beginning of a horror movie.

5. Bluejay and His Companions (cont.)-  Having taken a course that goes in depth over Native American traditions and culture, it is interesting to see different aspects of their culture, such as the sweat lodge, being used in this tale.

6. Dug-From-Ground- Why would the grandmother tell the granddaughter not to dig the root with two stalks?  From what I could tell Dug-From-Ground was very helpful.

7. Dug-From-Ground (cont.)- I've actually played shinny before and it is pretty fun, albeit it is definitely very tiring.

8. The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle- This is a very interesting origin tale and reminds me more of something from Norse mythology than it does any Native American.

9. The Attack on the Giant Elk and the Great Eagle (cont.)- A very odd way to end the story, having bat lose all the feathers.  I kind of wished it concluded a bit better but it was definitely one of the most interesting origin stories I have heard.