Faking the books
Here comes my tabblo.
I completely agree with the Birkerts aticle. I don't think it is a technophobic behaviour to claim that the era of the printed text is slowly dying and to be sad about that. I share most of Birkerts idea but I am myself a big user of computer and electronic things in general.
It was quite ironic to read this article on a computer screen! I haven't been a great reader during my whole life but I have to admit that since I have started reading more and more books, I find that there is nothing to compare between reading a printing book and reading on a screen. First, I don't know about you but purely physically, I have to make many breaks or my eyes gets worse and worse and almost painful. Then, I think that I am much more concentrated into my reading when I'm turning the pages, touching the paper, all that experience about going through a book that Birkerts explains in the article.
I don't think that Landow argument to counter that is very accurate. He talks about this person who "displayed Ben Johnson's own copie of Euclid...". You don't have to hold a priceless book to feel special. I am generally very attached even to a cheap book that I have bought or that I have been offered.
And to finish on a complete esthetic argument : look how a library is more beaufiful than a hard disk!
... See my Tabblo>
Comments
Nice comparison with the hard drive and the library!
How do you feel about books on tape? I have never read/listened to a book on tape and I doubt I ever will. You are correct about the physical aspect of holding a book and turning the pages. It is almost a romantic experience with a paperback or hard cover novel. I can accept the advantages of podcasting for information but not an audio book.
Mike
Posted by: md2506 | March 21, 2007 10:13 PM
I have to agree with you. There is something about reading a physical book. Holding it in your hands, turning the page, and even putting on the bookshelf when you are finished reading. I personally don't like to read articles on my computer. I print most of them out (but I recycle the paper in my garden!). There is something about highlighting or making notes on the paper. I feel like I'm absorbing more information. And, my eyes are much happy with paper as well! Oh, I love the look of the library over the disk any time!!!
Posted by: JuliaT | March 22, 2007 09:13 PM
Mike, I have never listened to a book on tape, I don't think I would like it. When I read I have my own rythm, sometimes I re-read the same page / paragraph, I underline things, write notes etc... and I agree with you, it's almost a romantic experience!
I recognize myself in the description given by Julia too.
Posted by: Pierre | March 23, 2007 05:03 PM
I completely agree with you about reading something on the computer, opposed to printed text, is physically more demanding. My eyes also become irritated, and I have to take many breaks as well. However, I also believe that we are just emerging into the digitization era, and that there are many changes that will occur over the next 10 years. Eventually, when technology allows, I believe that print sources will be a thing of the past.
Posted by: Scott Szesterniak | March 25, 2007 10:46 PM