Blog 3

In Robert Bringhurst’s article “Why There Are Pages and Why They Must Turn,” he describes how books have advanced in the way they are published throughout the years.  At the time the article was written electronic books were just beginning to appear.  Bringhurst believed, “[t]he forms in which books have thrived [included] oral poetry, the manuscript, letterpress and the lithographic illustrated book.” Being three years since Bringhurst wrote this article and the technology advancements that took place during that time we can safely add electronic books to the list of those that have thrived.  But is there a difference in the way these different forms of books have transitioned over the years?

I feel that the transition from storytelling to print was equally a detrimental step as well as an advancement for books. With the transition from storytelling to print, the writer’s emotions can be lost even though with the print the reader is encouraged to use their own imagination while reading.

  Storytelling is a gift that is placed upon an individual to share a story by bringing it to life for the audience.  The audience is allowed to paint a picture of the story in their mind; however, the expressions and emotions are set by the story teller.  The storyteller can exaggerate certain areas diminish others according to their audience.  With the transition from storytelling to print, the tone in which the writer wanted to present the book can be lost. 

As much as I enjoy hearing stories, I like to read them for myself as well.  The advancement from storytelling to print was a milestone in literacy and education.  Having a book in print was an encouragement too many to learn to read and having a printed copy would allow them to read over and over again.  It also gave individuals a chance to be creative in their reading by allowing them to choose which parts they wanted to emphasis and what tone they would read in. 

In my opinion, the transition from paper to electronic is much different than the transition from storytelling to print.  The transition from paper to electronic offers a variety of benefits to the reader while also being able to add back some previous benefits that were taken away by the print.

The electronic reading makes it easier for an individual to store books and have them more readily available.  Being able to read the electronic books repetitively and reading from your own perspective are also benefits to the electronic form.  For me the best part about the electronic books is that they can “be threaded with sound files” (Bringhurst 25).  Having an elderly grandfather who has almost lost complete eyesight has helped me to appreciate the new electronic books that have sound as well.  It allows individuals that cannot see a chance to listen and enjoy books. 

The changes in book forms over the years have offered advantages and disadvantages, but overall I believe that each form is still very appropriate in society today depending upon the situation and setting. 

Works Cited

Bringhurst, Robert and Heriot Bay.  “Why There Are Pages and Why They Must Turn.”  World

Literature Today.  Sep/Oct 2008, Vol. 82 Issue 5. pp 20-26. 23 February 2011.  <http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.ou.edu/eds/detail?hid=23&sid=0894d0eb-6d8b-4d1c>.