Welcome to English 1010! This blog is the place to find links to
articles, post discussion questions about the articles, and respond to
others' discussion questions.
Here is a link to the first reading, due Wednesday, Aug. 28. Remember
to bring a hard copy or electronic copy to class, be prepared to discuss
it and answer questions about it in class, and then post a question or
comment about it on the blog. Email me at emilywhitby1@weber.edu if you
have any trouble accessing the article.
Caleb Crain, "Twilight of the Books"
What is the cause for so many people losing the will to read?
ReplyDeleteRayce R
Technology, in my opinion is the reason for the drastic decline in reading. There are more options for things to do in your free time as every year passes. Much of society today views reading as boring compared to video games, television, or watching movies.
DeleteAustin F
I agree with Austin, but I'd like to add some to it. I think that reading isn't considered a "cool" thing to do among most people in younger generations. Most of the time you don't hear people talking about what book they just read. Instead you hear them talking about what movie or TV show they just watched or what video game they are playing.
DeleteI also think it has a lot to do with the increasing impatience of people. Reading a book isn't as immediately satisfying as watching a YouTube video or even a movie. With the temptation of satisfying your boredom faster why would you want to read? I'm not saying that everyone is this way, because I know they're not, but it seems like more and more people are becoming so.
Justin H
I agree with Justin and Austin. I think as a younger generation we are more caught up in TV, entertainment, and much more. Reality TV is something I believe has really taken up a lot of people's lives. We are more caught up in people's life's from the Bachelor, Duck Dynasty, or the Kardashians then we are our own. I truly believe technology has greatly affected today's society. We are all on our smartphones, or tablets. Why buy a book that you can physically turn the pages when you have ebooks, tablets, nooks, and audiobooks, or finding it online. That's what a lot of today's generation thinks. Now not everyone is like that. Just like Justin said about YouTube, we as young adults today don't find immediate satisfaction in reading. Reading is a long process depending at what level of reading we are. It takes too much time, some would say. Others would just say, "I'm waiting for the movie version of the book to come out. No need to actually read the book when there is a movie." In a nutshell, I believe with the technical age expanding reading levels will decrease. It's sad, what we once found satisfying, reading, is now something a lot of people dread to do.
DeletePaige J.
I think that another reason would be due to word of mouth. Technology has a role in this reason as well. Before TV became so popular, many people would spend their time at home reading. With most time at home spent with reading rather than watching TV, people would talk more about the books they were reading instead of the TV series they enjoy watching. Which would make others want to read those books as well. Now, people talk mainly about TV series, YouTube videos, and other technology based medias, causing less talk about books and more about visually based entertainment. I believe this could be a contributing factor of decreased reading.
DeleteAllyson B.
I would have to agree with all of you. Technological media is available to everybody, and the rising generation is being exposed to it more and more at an early age. Watching things is more of the norm now than it was in the time of our parents. Also the increase of quality in special effects adds to the interest of the viewer who wants to see a lot of action.
DeleteJoseph S.
I think many people are simply attracted to television because it is so easy to just sit down on the couch, turn it on, and flip channels for hours. Regardless of the quality of the programs, or even their interest in the particular subjects of the shows, it seems that convenience often comes ahead of quality. We are the fast food generation, and I think that same mentality comes across in almost every aspect of our lives. We want everything now, but we don't want to put out any effort to get it.
DeleteSalome T.
One thing that could contribute to the decline of reading. Is the lack of searching. With movies and TV shows people are bombarded by advertisements. But with books I rarely see media awareness for it and people have gotten lazy. It so much easier for ad pop up, then to actual search for book that interest you.
DeleteHow can a hieroglyph/symbol represent a sound?
ReplyDeleteRayce R
Proust described reading as, “that fruitful miracle of a communication in the midst of solitude.” How would you, in your own words describe reading?
ReplyDeletePaige J
Why would Maryanne Wolf say, "The act of reading is not natural"?
ReplyDeleteAllyson B.
The act of reading is not natural because we humans began to read too recently to have it genetically coded within us to consider reading natural. If reading were to stop declining, then the "act" would become more natural through future generations. But the fight between being a viewer(television) and a reader continues, with the viewers increasing as readers decrease.
DeleteScott N.
Have you noticed any changes in your own reading habits? Perhaps your own, personal "Twilight of the Books"?
ReplyDeleteSalome T.
I have noticed a decline in my reading habits. Lately, I have been reading less and less and at the same time, I have been watching more and more TV. It is hard for me to find time to read. It is much easier to multitask while watching television than to multitasking while reading. Reading is something that takes lots of time and attention and in our fast paced society, television is all the more appealing.
DeleteMarissa Winter
I have defiantly noticed a decline in my reading habits. I feel like between kids and my busy life,I have no time to sit down and read my favorite novels. I believe I should make more time to read for my generation. Television has made us very lazy and is very convenient.
DeleteLauren Webb
Yes, I defiantly have noticed a decrease in my reading habits. I just don't have an interest to read anymore. I think I'm just so used to having media right in my finger tips and that I'm getting lazy to read. I would rather look at pictures and small summaries of articles or things that are going on today then to read a book or story. I only read if I have to like in school. I don't do any reading in my free time only if I'm intrigued by something that catches my attention. I'd most rather avoid it, if I can. I read all the time when I was younger and now I'v lost interest for some reason which I can't seem to fully grasp.
DeleteKasandra Hernandez
I have definitely noticed a difference especially the older I get. It seems like the older I have less and less time on my hands to actually sit down and read. There is something that always needs to be done. Cleaning, laundry, car work, Jobs, homework........ there is always something on the to-do list.
DeleteAlex Rasmussen
Usually, humans try to take the easiest path. We humans also love storytelling and being entertained. Is this the reason for the decline in reading? Does watching TV just take less effort to entertain us than reading a book?
ReplyDeleteMarissa Winter
I have to admit that I have fallen behind on reading for quite sometime. I wasn't ever raised around reading. It was always the television or internet. This generation is missing out on the prospect of learning from a book. If everyone had the time to read and gave it some hope, I think that the world and the new generation would make the numbers rise. I definitely want to fit reading into my schedule more and way less television.
ReplyDeleteCassidey Balser
Did anyone else notice how many facts were presented at the beginning of the article, or is that the norm these days?
ReplyDeleteScott N.
Does anyone really think that Literacy makes a difference in they way people act? I know that the text says that readers are more likely than non readers to play sports and be more active. What is your opinion on this?
ReplyDeleteKasandra Hernandez
It could make a difference in the way people act... i can only speak for myself when i say that I haven't seen a difference in myself personally. books are great, but i haven't noticed a change in myself because of the books that i have read.
DeleteHayden C.