In many ways the debate over internet literature, resembles
the discussions of the Harry Potter books in which traditionalist complained
that young people were wasting their time reading ‘low brow’ books, when they should
be reading the classics.
There is of course validity in that point of view, because
the key to literacy is knowing the rules: sentence structure, grammar and so on;
something that the internet often fails miserably at.
Still the response from parents was and rightfully so, “When
was the last time you saw a line of a hundred children waiting to purchase Huck
Finn?” The Harry Potter series despite not being a classic, not only brought
children to literature, to reading again, it kept them there for a decade. I mean book sales of close to 450 million for the book series, tells us there was a lot of reading going on.
The internet is following a similar pattern in which young
people are using the medium to take an interest in reading. Let’s be honest
here, the majority of content must be read. Young people students, write all
the time now, whether it is blogs, fanfiction, web pages and even tweets. They
are consuming and producing the written word in order to communicate and isn’t
that what literacy is all about?
As to your first point, regarding the Harry Potter books, I couldn't agree more. A few weeks ago, I was speaking with my aunt, a world traveler and very cultured, about literature and why I've reached a point where I'm "over it." She mentioned how impressed she was with my wide breadth of literary knowledge and that when I was a young teen, my dad would complain to her that all I ever read was Stephen King. She was just happy I was reading. Well, King became Roth, Dostoyevsky, Bellow, Hemingway, Dumas, Hugo, Sartre, Camus...all of this was because King introduced me to gripping narrative.
ReplyDeleteThat said, as to your second point, about knowing the rules to literacy, I couldn't disagree more. Language and what's acceptable "grammar" and "structure" are ever evolving. Look at literature from Europe in the middle ages and compare it to modern standards. Very different. So perhaps we're now witnessing an evolution of literacy that's faster than any other in history only because technology is spreading ideas at the speed of light.
Well RB, I think there's a couple of issues here. Absolutely language evolves over time, I don't think you're going to get disagreement here.
DeleteHowever in the here and now, instructors, other professionals and employers not only expect, but demand a certain structure in communication.
Without it, your chances to impress are diminished. So while I agree with you in theory, in practice I think students should be taught to communicate in ways that will allow them to move forward and not be held back.
I often talk to my students about 'code switching', that is the way you speak with your peers, may not be appropriate for your employer and you need to understand when and where.
So for me, computer literacy while growing in leaps and bounds, must still give way to traditional rules in order to be successful...at least for now.
I felt compelled to respond to anyone who references Harry Potter. This is, by far, my favorite series I have ever read and I was introduced to it by my daughters. Harry Potter, at the time, was like a breath of fresh air that created a 'reading buzz'. I feel that digital literacy may be the newest buzz in literature. Kids are reading books on line, authoring their own creative pieces, and can have instant information to learn about any topic. It is truly an education revolution.
ReplyDeleteAs to the second point, it seems that we absolutely have a need for professional skills in writing. This is a skill that is still very important in the professional world and in a certain setting of communication. I also see how students transfer and absorb information. These two types of communication can be learned (and are learned) at the same time. Both have value for information and communication. However, one is taught and one is lived.