Oral Traditions to Digital Media
The article, “Old Media, New Media, and Knowledge” by J.D. Applen analyzes the evolution of communication from oral traditions to written language and digital media. Each of these shifts has had a significant impact on how people generate, share, and retain information.
Applen starts by talking about oral cultures, in which spoken language was the main means of communication. Repetition of words and memory were important in ancient societies. People passed down knowledge through stories, lectures, and gatherings over the centuries. Interpersonal communication plays an important role because spoken language is temporary, requiring individuals to internalize and remember information.
Transition to Digital Knowledge
Writing’s invention changed everything. Humans could permanently record their thoughts, experiences, and histories through written texts. This change promoted advanced and abstract thinking while maintaining existing information. Writing allows people to evaluate, develop, and add to ideas over time. People skilled in literacy have become essential to the development of knowledge and the advancement of culture.
In the era of digital media that we currently live in, it can be not easy to distinguish between written and oral communication. Apple emphasises the need for digital literacy, which is the ability to comprehend and engage with multimedia content in addition to reading and writing in traditional terms. Videos, blogs, social media, and other digital platforms combine oral and written practices, making it difficult for us to successfully navigate this new environment.
Adapting to Evolving Literacy
Applen’s work serves as a reminder that as we become increasingly engaged in the digital age, literacy is continually evolving. To prosper, we need to embrace the new skills and tools that allow us to interact with a world where evolving media constantly develops, shares, and modifies knowledge, challenging us to think critically and creatively about the information we consume and contribute.
Check out my previous blog post: “Digital Literacy”
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