Books, articles, and magazines have drastically changed from just ten or twenty years ago. Many now are viewed or purchased online. They are read on Ipads, Kindles, and other electronic devices. Storing books now takes up less space. It's a lot easier to store a file on a device than trying to find room for another book on your shelf. This also makes books much more portable instead of having to lug them around everywhere. Sharing books, magazines, and articles online is much easier because you can just email it or purchase it online in the comfort of your own home. I personally don't like reading on an electronic device, it feels more impersonal. I don't feel as engaged with whatever I'm reading. I find myself zoning out more when I read online or on some device. There is definitely a tactile, physical element to reading an actual paperback book. Not to mention it breaks up the text, yes there are programs that allow it to seem like you are turning the page, but it's not the same. I think reading on electronic devices takes away from the actual experience of reading.
Music has changed quite a bit as well. CDs are not as common and iTunes is now the new way to get music. This does affect the storage aspect quite a bit. Now all your music can be stored on one, little iPod instead of trying to stack a bunch of CDs or cassette tapes. Sharing is quite easy now. You can share your music with several devices or people. You can also share music by posting links on facebook or other social media sites. Experience wise, you can listen to a variety of music all in one place and almost as much of it as you want. You don't have to go digging through CDs or switching out CDs in order to listen to the songs you desire to listen to. You can just look them up by artist or song on the iPod or shuffle the songs. I guess I'm kind of old school because I still like CDs. I do have my own iPod though, but for me I feel safer having a hard copy instead of just having it on iTunes. This way if something happens or iTunes glitches, I still have the music I want to listen to. I only do this if I like most of an album, though. If there is just one song I want from an artist, I download it off of iTunes. I use both mediums and they have their own place. I think a little bit is taken away from just having iTunes though, you don't get to read the lyrics physically along with the song.
I think the changes to books and music are good and bad. There are some elements that are lost with making everything electronic like the tactile feel of a CD or book. It does make access to books and music easier than ever though. Change is kind of a double-edged sword.
This is a little random. But, your post reminded me of a post apocalyptic story I wrote once where there was an EMP blast, I think from the sun, that was strong enough to fry every electronic device. And with that blast a lot of cultural information, and culture itself, was lost. The story explored what would happen to the culture if most of information for that society was destroyed overnight.
ReplyDeleteSorry, random and slightly narcissistic. But an intrigueing philosophical question. :)
I agree that change is a double edged sword and so much good can come from the same thing that is giving us the bad. What I do love about technology though, is the ability to have a digital and a non-digital copy of music, pictures and books. My family has scanned all of our old pictures on to a media vault and if there were ever a fire that would be the first thing we would all grab. Those memories are so important to us and technology has made it easier to keep them safe and preserve them.
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