An Incredibly Short History of Texts and Media

Johansen QuijanoUTA

ENGL 2303

Origins of Writing: Technology

3000 B.C. Clay Tablets, Papyrus (plant-based)

Origins of Writing: Technology

1000 B.C. Animal skin parchment, wood block printing, silk

Origins of Writing: Technology

500 B.C. – Wax Tablets

Origins of Writing: Technology

100 A.D. Paper

Origins of Writing: Technology

1440 A.D. Guttenberg Printing Press

Origins of Writing: Technology

18th - 19th CenturyIlluminated Engraving

Origins of Writing: Technology

1974 – First consumer computersScelbi & Mark-8 Altair & IBM 5100 Computers

1979 – WordStar Word Processor

1993 – World Wide Web

1998 – Rocket e-Reader

Origins of Writing:Cultures

Ancient Book Cultures – A Culture of Sharing

Origins of Writing:Cultures

Books in the Middle Ages – Scribe Culture

Origins of Writing:Cultures

Printing Press – Mass Production of Books

Origins of Writing:Cultures

Contemporary Book Cultures

Origins of Writing: Cultures

Technologies (Remix) Culture

Afternoon, A Story

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/pmaf/hypertext/aft/index.html

Origins of Writing:Things to Consider

Does reading make us smarter? If so, what kind of reading?

What were the effects of technology on the distribution of information? Were these positive or negative effects?

What were the effects of networks on the distribution of information? Were these positive or negative effects?

Do we read differently now than how we read a century ago, or do we just read different things on different media?

Is technology making us more or less human?