#rettberg

In Rettberg's chapter Bards to Blogs, we are learning about the history of blogging. There was a major transition from orality to literacy, where we went from a culture that purely spoke to a culture that could write as well. This plays a major role in the history of blogging. Without becoming literate, there would be no blogging. Vlogging maybe, but no written word. There was a second transition from print media to electronic media. The transition, according to Ong, does not segue straight into blogging though, referring to radio and television instead.

I think it's interesting that Plato found writing destructive. I'm okay with that theory. Writing has never actually been my strong point. I grew up a theatre nerd who had to memorize everything so I have a great memory for remembering random facts. It is just way more personal to communicate verbally than through writing. That may just be me though, because of my dislike of writing. I ramble for hours on end.

Blogs, I guess, are now different because you can comment and edit, so they are changing constantly. A little less stationary than the writing that Plato was referring to. Plato also probably lived in the time of dinosaurs and stone tablets like my parents. (Sorry Mom and Dad! Love you!)

Before blogs came about though, there was print. Print helped our culture to achieve literacy. With wider access to books and other things you could read, it increased your literacy skills. Yay Books!