Book Burning Returns to Civilized Societies in America

OK, so we aren't actually burning the books...yet. Kaufman's essay, Protecting the Printed Word, makes me feel like I need to scream at the top of my lungs that I am 21 years old and every day I would choose a printed book over anything over the internet!

I find it disturbing that there are some authors that see no problem in transferring their life's work to a fluid medium like the Internet. After reading the last two books in class, I want to tell them that, in all likelihood, their texts will become harder and harder to find as people will copy, paste and amend at will. Though it is a, lets say, interesting metaphor, the book to the jew of the Nazi's, it can really express the quickness and readiness of the public to let the book go.

To me, a book is an experience. A book is used to learn, used in classrooms, used to teach and understand, but a book is also an intimate, one on one experience with yourself. I don't think I could have an intimate experience with the internet (though, I suppose, many people do each day in their own way). The way a book smells, or feels, or the way the page took the ink, these are all things you cannot experience in cyberspace. What will become of the ancient texts of the past, seemingly forgotten? Will they be burned too? Will they be lost forever?

Kaufman notes that this is the way things are going. Because people like money, they're going to do whatever it takes to make money, even if that means destroying a cultural tradition that has been around for about 600 years. If it ain't broken, don't fix it, people. What becomes of these priceless pieces when the Internet crashes? When the technology moves on (as it always will). What happens in times of catastrophe and times of struggle where there is no money to pay for electronics and there is no one to run websites? A book is more than a book to me, as it should be to everyone. It is something sacred, a piece of time saved on pages, cherished and revered for years after.

I can see it now: Empty libraries. Kids in schools holding only a kindle. Bookstores becoming extinct like so many music stores. Where will we study, and how? What kind of learners will we have become? How will this transform down the line? What will be next, paintings done all on the computer? If one art form goes digital, will they all? Where is our culture headed?

Step 2: A Power Greater Than I May Restore Me to Sanity

Every day of my life, I am bombarded by images and overwhelmed by technology. Only now do I realize the impact this may be having on my life and the way I am growing up. In today's world, people seem to find technology addiction to be amusing or roll their eyes and laugh at the soullessness of it all. As I've learned, there is no reason to laugh.

Last night, I was watching the show Modern Family with my housemates. Part of the show was about a technology ridden family where no one listened to or respected one another and the adults tried to put their foot down. They wanted to put a one week ban on using any electronics, however they made it into a game. Whoever won received whatever they wanted and the last person to use any technology was the winner. Most of the kids became frustrated and gave up, as did the parents. Sure, things can be easier using these devices, but is the cost too much? What happened to family time? What happened to human interaction and conversation?

I think it's interesting what Postman said in the interview we watched about how putting computers into classrooms would be a terrible idea. It is a catch-22 because kids need to be computer literate to make it in almost any field when they get older, as well as while in school, but they are losing face time rapidly. The best part about school, for me, was getting to see my friends every day and talk and play with them. Honestly, the most boring part of my school week was when we went into the computer lab to "play" Mavis Beacon to practice typing.

If kids are enjoying their computer time and wishing for more of it in schools, I wonder how different the kids of today will turn out from me, the kid of yesterday. If kids are spending time in schools on the computer and watching "educational shows" like Voyage of the Mimi, and then going home to watch TV or play video games, when do they interact with other people? Talking into their World of Warcraft headset? Kids may need to know how to type, but they need people skills too.

Questioning My Memory

After reading from Chuck Klosterman's Eating The Dinosaur, I became disturbed, wondering about the images in my head. He goes on for a while describing how for about 129,900 years, all of the images people had in their head were real images they had seen an experienced. He explains that today, most of the images in our head are at least partially generated from the television.

As a result, I have been thinking of the many things I picture in my head that I have most certainly not seen. Any war, for example. I have an image of war. In fact, I have many different images in my head for many different wars, yet I have seen none. This has really come to make me realize just how much of an impact both the internet and TV have had on my life and the lives of those around me. I always knew these were powerful technologies with the ability to change us, however I have not, before this, realized just how much they have influenced me personally. From now on, I know I will really think about the pictures that come to mind and try to understand how many of those pictures are not mine.

Something like this realization does make me fear more for society. By going back to the idea that the press is no longer serving its watchdog function, I can see how easily the government and all those who influence it, can manipulate how we see and understand the world. We don't see the wars overseas, or the impact big companies and factories are having on the environment or cultures of peoples around the world. These images, if seen at all, are generated for us, by the press. If they aren't looking out for us and keeping an eye on what we see and our looking at, who is and what are their motives?

Step 1: Admitting You Have a Problem

In his book Amusing Ourselves to Death, Postman discusses how our lives have become consumed by media. He discusses the shift from the ear to the eye as the organ of language processing, as well as how this shift has created a fragmentary system within media and how this resonates throughout our culture. I myself am someone who consumes this media throughout the day, checking even my cell phone sometimes at night. I don't necessarily need these things and I have certainly gone without them for at least a few days, however, I do feel as though I am disconnected from the world when I am not plugged in. It has occurred to me that this has become such a comfort that it is a huge part of my life, integrated into every aspect. I paint, draw and write with my iPod in though these the things that are most personal in my life. Most of the time I would love to believe I am above all of this, that I am superior to it, but I am now understanding that I, too, have fallen victim.