The Futurist on the “21st Century Writer”
Last week, a reader turned me on to an article entitled “The 21st Century Writer,” which happens to be the current cover story for The Futurist magazine. Written by the magazine’s senior editor, Patrick Tucker, the article is one of the best ones I’ve seen in a long time to discuss the evolving role of the writer in these digital times.
And while the fact that the essay is appearing in a magazine entitled The Futurist tips its hand slightly as to where the author falls in the future of the book debate (I would imagine an article on the same topic in Luddite Monthly would take the exact opposite point of view), but despite this Tucker places his argument deftly within historical and technological context:
For people who make their living selling words to readers—and indeed for readers themselves—these are times of upheaval. The information technology revolution has led to an explosion in textual content. More people are engaging in more conversations, sharing more opinions, learning more, and learning faster than anyone could have imagined just a few decades ago.
It’s a really great essay, and has many great quotes and bits of insight.
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Hey Jeff, Thanks much for this great blurb. For those interested, I’ll be discussing IT and Post-Literacy at the upcoming Word Future Society conference. Below is a session description.
WorldFuture 2008, The Annual Conference of the World Future Society, July 26-28. Hilton Washington.
MONDAY 9-10:30 AM
End of the Written Word
with Stacey Aldrich, deputy state librarian, California State Library, Les Gottsman, director, general education, Golden Gate University, William Crossman, founder, director, Com-Speak 2050 Institute for the Study of Talking Computers and Oral Cultures,
Joining for post-presenation Q and A, Patrick Tucker, senior editor of THE FUTURIST, director of Communications for the World Future Society
“While school kids’ reading and writing skills have fallen below grade level in many electronically-developed countries, their ability to communicate and access information using non-text technologies is clearly on the rise. Cell phones, video games, iPods, MySpace, and YouTube are the IT (information technology) instruments of choice not only for young people, but for people of all ages around the world. Voicedriven e-mail and voice-driven Internet search (think Google Talk) are on the verge of replacing some of the last vestiges of digital text. And text messaging, with its unique grammar and spelling, seems to symbolize the devolution of written language. Will we soon be using voice-recognition software to talk with our computers while our keyboards gather dust? Are we leaving the Age of Literacy behind and moving rapidly into the Post-Literate Age? Are we on a “back to the future” track to become a worldwide oral culture (again)? Is this positive or negative? What potential opportunities does this shift hold for the world’s people? How will it affect traditional education and the 3 Rs (reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic)? How will it impact world business and commerce, international relations, the arts, and human consciousness itself? Panelists will analyze these trends and address vital questions about the future of IT and our world.” For more info go to www.wfs.org
Patrick, no problem; it was a great article. Good luck at the conference.