Thanks Lauren for reminding us all of basic needs to keep ourselves thinking for ourselves by writing & reading without AI & society bias from social media
“The 1900s guillotine with its heavy metal handle sliced through that paper.”
That reminds me of our modern day version of it, cut and paste. I wonder how long before people forget the origin of those words?
As to the printed word opposed to the spoken, Stephen King in his memoir, “On Writing”, makes the case that audiobooks are closer to the original communication of stories which were spoken. The invention of printing is a secondary way to record the story. Speaking of writing, I love yours, glad you are back!
And I think Stephen King‘s point was that the origin of a story is in its telling. But maybe that origin can now legitimately be found in the keyboard? It all starts in the mind and works its way out via different technologies. What I like about an audiobook is that the actor’s delivery often makes me understand the context better than if I just read it. They can bring out meaning and other interpretations I would have otherwise missed.
This may sound off topic, but... In ancient Judaism, and later in the earliest decades of Islam, sacred stories, including rules and rituals, were remembered by a class of clerics. In proto-Rabbinic Judaism they were call the Tanna'im, the Rememberers. Their memories were the foundation of the Talmud. And long before them, Torah was oral, not written., until Jews in exile were permitted to go to Jerusalem and practice their religion again. In Islam, the stories of Muhammed and the Angel Gibriel, were remembered and retold, until the generation that knew the stories died by age or war, and the Quran had to be written to preserve the stories. These are examples, I think, of technology (writing) used to preserve something precious. Of course, as with all of forms of technology, is corruptible, used for enslavement, degradation and power-mongering. But the link (which you alluded to) between writing and memory is inevitable. I think, as with all human inventions, there's intention and then there's practicality. Technology is neither good nor evil. It's how its used.
Thanks Lauren for reminding us all of basic needs to keep ourselves thinking for ourselves by writing & reading without AI & society bias from social media
Now I want a bumper sticker that says, “Don’t Forget To Think” 😝
“The 1900s guillotine with its heavy metal handle sliced through that paper.”
That reminds me of our modern day version of it, cut and paste. I wonder how long before people forget the origin of those words?
As to the printed word opposed to the spoken, Stephen King in his memoir, “On Writing”, makes the case that audiobooks are closer to the original communication of stories which were spoken. The invention of printing is a secondary way to record the story. Speaking of writing, I love yours, glad you are back!
Oh, surely it can be found in the keyboard! But there is something extra juicy about writing by hand, don’t you think?
Oh wow, cut and paste becoming antiquated is making me laugh and feel a little nauseous!
I love "On Writing," and now considering the fact that listening often sticks in my memory with more weight than reading...
And I think Stephen King‘s point was that the origin of a story is in its telling. But maybe that origin can now legitimately be found in the keyboard? It all starts in the mind and works its way out via different technologies. What I like about an audiobook is that the actor’s delivery often makes me understand the context better than if I just read it. They can bring out meaning and other interpretations I would have otherwise missed.
This may sound off topic, but... In ancient Judaism, and later in the earliest decades of Islam, sacred stories, including rules and rituals, were remembered by a class of clerics. In proto-Rabbinic Judaism they were call the Tanna'im, the Rememberers. Their memories were the foundation of the Talmud. And long before them, Torah was oral, not written., until Jews in exile were permitted to go to Jerusalem and practice their religion again. In Islam, the stories of Muhammed and the Angel Gibriel, were remembered and retold, until the generation that knew the stories died by age or war, and the Quran had to be written to preserve the stories. These are examples, I think, of technology (writing) used to preserve something precious. Of course, as with all of forms of technology, is corruptible, used for enslavement, degradation and power-mongering. But the link (which you alluded to) between writing and memory is inevitable. I think, as with all human inventions, there's intention and then there's practicality. Technology is neither good nor evil. It's how its used.
Now I want to read your piece on this, Elizabeth!! (Thank you always leaving such thoughtful notes.)
Yes! With the right pen and paper it can be intoxicating!