blog #11

I found something that was really interesting in this class was the fact that languages have evolved. From oral and pictographic storytelling to what we have now with an alphabetic system to form what we call literature. After reading multiple blogs when we were studying pictographic languages I thought it was fascinating all the different pictographic items we still use. Graffiti being very predominant in our lives and still can be seen almost anywhere really resonated with me. Showcasing symbols and pictures that clearly represent certain items. I think this can be said for tattoos too. When I see certain symbols tattooed on people sometime one can tell what they represent—this of course is in regards to the relationship with that person as well. For example I have a friend who is openly religious. They got a tattoo of an anchor—being a symbol of being strongly grounded into one’s faith. Reading a picture to know the meaning. With Graffiti I think it is interesting how symbols and in some cases pictures can represent “gang territories”. Even though our language is not a pictographic language we still have some residue of that in our culture. I spoke about how texting uses a form of pictographic language. With the use of certain characters and abstractions we can digitally convey emotions. This I find to be not only incredibly clever but necessary with the impact text messaging has on our everyday life—or at the very least my everyday life. With the ability to show not only tell what I am trying to convey through a phone in 140 characters is a huge advantage!

Overall I think it most interesting how we are evolving and remediating different items of our everyday life.

Blog #10 Proposal

I really am interested in the progression of how stories over the year have been told. Looking at the beginning of the year and oral traditions and how it then advanced to becoming novels with the printing press. Now oral traditions and stories are said to be “lost” and I was wondering since the digital age will it progress to stories not being valid if it isn’t digital. Why would and why would it not be? How does the digital age affect how we see stories and if we can trust them more that they are the Internet or less.

Blog #9

Has the book suffered in regards to the Internet and the ability for a book’s context to be available within seconds? With the ability to download a book and its contexts—will the traditional print book continue to feel the strain or is there a strain on it at all.

With the ability to have a books context within seconds due to EBooks and finding it through a search engine or torrent—that those regards, yes the book has become less important for me to buy. The print book has suffered. With new technologies such as the Kindle, Nook, and IPad the print book in my opinion has suffered. However, I believe the context of a book has also suffered as well. People can get the gist of a book under five minutes with the help of the Internet. With blogs and Sparknotes someone can get a pretty good idea of what a book is about and how it ends with the help of these items. Again I believe the book not only in print but contextually have suffered.

Even though the book is feeling the strain of new technologies I think there will always be the print book in demand. The nostalgic aspect of a print book I don’t believe will ever feel the strain of technologies. There is still something about having a book in your hands and flipping the pages could not be digitally recreated. Not to mention the smell that books have—that old stiff smell. Though this can’t be hindered with the motive to buy a print has. With the convenience of the Internet a book and the context of a book will continue to be strained.