How is technology changing the art of writing?

The Aspen Institute

3 Jul 201404:50

Summary

TLDRThe digital age has transformed authorship, making storytelling accessible to everyone through various platforms like Wattpad. The script discusses the evolution of writing and the importance of language as a symbolic system for communication. It explores the idea of non-textual forms of expression, such as images and videos, as languages in themselves. The script also highlights the potential of technology, like MRI machines, to generate images from thoughts, bypassing the need for words. Furthermore, it emphasizes the value of community feedback in enhancing writing skills and the role of positive online communities in fostering creativity and growth.

Takeaways

📝 The act of writing is evolving in the digital age with more tools democratizing storytelling, allowing everyone to express their narratives.
🌐 Language is a system of symbols representing truth, and writing is just one form among many, including visual and auditory media.
🖼️ The potential of visual media is highlighted by advances like MRI machines that can generate images from a person's thoughts in real time.
🤔 There's a discussion about the limitations of visual storytelling, suggesting that creating genuinely interesting images is challenging due to interface constraints.
💭 The idea of communicating thoughts directly without language is explored, hinting at a future where inner experiences could be shared through thought alone.
🗣️ The importance of language in intelligence and communication is emphasized, suggesting it's a fundamental skill that is unlikely to be replaced soon.
🌟 The internet has lowered barriers to authorship, enabling anyone to publish their work and gain an audience without traditional gatekeepers.
🔍 The internet also facilitates immediate feedback, allowing writers to improve their craft through audience engagement and data analytics.
👥 The script mentions the value of community in the context of writing platforms like Wattpad, where authors can receive encouragement and constructive criticism.
📈 The impact of feedback on authorship is underscored, showing how it can provide insights into what resonates with readers and how to enhance storytelling.
🚫 The contrast between supportive online communities and the harsh reality of receiving negative or unhelpful feedback on the internet is noted.

Q & A

How is the concept of authorship evolving in the digital age?
-Authorship is evolving through the use of digital tools that democratize storytelling, allowing everyone to express their own narratives and experiences in various forms beyond traditional text.
What is the speaker's view on the role of language in communication?
-The speaker sees language as a system of symbols that point to a truth beyond the symbols themselves, and writing is just one form of symbolic creation among many, such as Instagram photos, Vine videos, and conversations.
How does the speaker compare traditional text writing to other forms of communication like images or videos?
-The speaker suggests that while text writing has been a long-standing method, it is not the only or final way to communicate. Other forms like images and videos can also serve as languages to convey experiences and ideas.
What is the potential future of communication according to the speaker's perspective?
-The speaker envisions a future where communication could be more direct, such as using MRI machines to generate images from thoughts in real time, allowing for a more immediate and unfiltered exchange of experiences.
What is the speaker's opinion on the universality of text in communication?
-The speaker believes that text is very universal and that the ability to read and write is a fundamental skill that is not likely to disappear soon, despite the emergence of new forms of communication.
How has the internet changed the landscape of authorship according to the script?
-The internet has removed barriers to getting an audience, allowing anyone to publish their work and receive immediate feedback, which can help improve writing skills and resonate with readers.
What is the role of feedback in the digital writing community mentioned in the script?
-Feedback in the digital writing community serves as a valuable asset, providing encouragement and constructive criticism that helps writers improve and understand what aspects of their work connect with readers.
How does the speaker describe the experience of receiving feedback on the internet?
-The speaker contrasts the positive feedback culture on platforms like Wattpad with personal experiences of receiving negative or unhelpful comments on the internet, highlighting the importance of supportive communities.
What is the significance of the community aspect in digital authorship as per the script?
-The community aspect is significant as it fosters a positive environment where authors have control over the feedback they receive, which is intended to encourage writing rather than critique.
How does the script address the issue of negative feedback on the internet?
-The script shares a personal anecdote of receiving a negative comment after a long wait, illustrating the potential downsides of seeking feedback online and the value of supportive digital communities.
What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to traditional language for conveying insights or experiences?
-The speaker suggests that describing insights or experiences verbally to someone else is a more immediate form of communication than creating a visual representation like a chart first.

Outlines

00:00

📝 The Evolution of Authorship in the Digital Age

This paragraph explores how the act of writing and authorship is evolving with the advent of digital tools. The democratization of storytelling is highlighted, allowing everyone to share their stories. The speaker discusses the fundamental nature of language as a system of symbols and how different mediums (like Instagram photos and Vine videos) also serve as forms of communication. The traditional text-based writing has been prevalent for a long time, but there is potential for new forms of symbolic creation in the future.

🖼️ The Limitations of Visual Communication

Here, the discussion turns to the limitations of images in communication. While text is a fundamental skill, creating interesting images is more restrictive due to the complexity of interfaces. An example is given of MRI machines that can generate images from thoughts in real-time, imagining a future where communication could be as seamless as thinking. The speaker believes in going beyond language, suggesting that thought-based communication could be a future possibility, although text remains an essential and defining characteristic of intelligence.

📚 Text as a Universal Communication Medium

Text is emphasized as a universal form of communication that everyone learns. The internet has revolutionized authorship by removing barriers to audience reach and providing valuable feedback to writers. On platforms like Wattpad, authors can receive immediate and constructive feedback, which enhances their writing skills. This immediate interaction with an audience changes the traditional isolated experience of writing and offers a significant advantage for new authors.

🎤 Personal Experience with Online Feedback

The speaker shares a personal anecdote about the challenges of receiving feedback online. In 1999, uploading a song online took months to get the first comment, which turned out to be negative and unrelated to the content. This contrasts with Wattpad's supportive community, where authors can control comments and foster a positive environment focused on encouraging writing rather than harsh critique. This supportive approach is crucial for nurturing new writers and maintaining a positive community.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Authorship

Authorship refers to the act of creating written works and the rights and responsibilities that come with it. In the context of the video, it is evolving in the digital age, where tools like Wad are democratizing storytelling, allowing everyone to be an author. The script discusses whether the nature of stories changes when authorship is accessible to all, suggesting that while the medium might change, the core of communication remains.

💡Digital Age

The digital age is a period marked by the prevalence of digital technology and the internet. The script mentions how this era has transformed authorship by providing platforms and tools that enable anyone to tell their story, thus changing the landscape of who can be considered an author and how stories are shared.

💡Democratizing

Democratizing, in this context, means making something accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or status. The script uses this term to describe how digital tools have leveled the playing field for storytelling, allowing a broader range of people to express their narratives and experiences.

💡Language

Language, as discussed in the video, is a system of symbols used to communicate thoughts and ideas. It is not limited to written or spoken words but can include visual media like Instagram photos or videos. The script emphasizes that language is a fundamental tool for human expression, regardless of the medium used.

💡Symbolic Creation

Symbolic creation refers to the process of using symbols to convey meaning or represent ideas. The script suggests that writing is one form of symbolic creation, but other forms, such as visual art or video, can also serve this purpose. This concept is central to the discussion on how digital media is expanding the ways we communicate.

💡Communication

Communication is the process of sharing information, ideas, or feelings. The video script explores various forms of communication, from traditional writing to modern digital forms. It underscores the importance of communication in conveying one's inner experience to another, regardless of the medium used.

💡Feedback

Feedback in the context of the video refers to the responses and comments that authors receive from their audience on digital platforms. The script highlights the importance of feedback in the digital age, as it helps writers improve their work and understand what resonates with readers, using the example of the platform Wattpad.

💡Wattpad

Wattpad is a social storytelling platform where writers can share their stories and receive feedback from readers. The script mentions Wattpad as an example of a platform that has changed authorship by providing immediate access to an audience and the opportunity for writers to receive constructive feedback.

💡Community

Community, in the script, refers to the collective of readers and writers on platforms like Wattpad. It is portrayed as a positive space where authors have control over the comments and where the focus is on encouraging writing rather than critiquing.

💡Inner Experience

Inner experience is the personal and subjective perception, thoughts, and feelings of an individual. The video discusses how different forms of communication, including writing and visual media, are attempts to convey one's inner experience to others.

💡MRI Machines

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machines are medical imaging devices that the script mentions in the context of future communication possibilities. It suggests that advancements in technology could allow for the direct translation of thoughts into images, potentially revolutionizing how we share our inner experiences.

Highlights

Discussion on how the act of writing and authorship is evolving in the digital age.

Introduction of tools like Wattpad that democratize the ability to tell stories.

Emphasis on writing as a system of symbols used to communicate inner experiences.

Comparison of different forms of symbolic creation, such as text, Instagram photos, and Vine videos.

Argument that language is a fundamental skill and communication method.

Mention of MRI machines that can generate images based on a person's thoughts.

Speculation about future communication through thoughts without words.

Importance of language in explaining insights, even when visual aids are used.

Recognition of text as a universal medium of communication that isn't going away.

Impact of the internet on authorship by removing barriers and providing access to audiences.

Benefit of immediate feedback from audiences on platforms like Wattpad.

Difference in community purpose on Wattpad, focusing on encouraging writing rather than critiquing.

Anecdote about early internet experiences with audience feedback.

Highlight of Wattpad's positive community where writers control comments.

Overall shift in authorship dynamics due to digital platforms and community interactions.