In “New Media and Literacy” by J.D Applen, he addresses the shift from traditional literacy to digital literacy and how it has impacted us. Traditional text vs digital text evoke different feelings because of how it presents itself. In the first paragraph he says, “Traditional print texts have no pictures; no color; strict order…..no revision” (34), and thus make the reader feel that the writer’s textual meaning is not open to any interaction.” This implies that digital texts are open to interaction. We can interpret or manipulate them in a different way than traditional texts.
Traditional texts have a sort of definitive tone compared to digital texts that we can comment on or directly interact with. If we agree or disagree with something we have read in a book, we can make a note of it. In comparison to digital texts, where if we agree or disagree with something we can make it known. Whether discussing on social media, or leaving a comment directly on the text itself, we can make people hear our opinion.
To be able to be successful in understanding different texts, it is important to adapt to the media. Understanding that changing or taking something away from digital media is different than changing traditional text. Applen says, “Web sites can always be added to or subtracted from but still retain a sense of wholeness. A novel with a couple of chapters missing cannot do this.” The way we use our words in written text is the “wholeness” of our novel so to speak. The wholeness of our website is the way we present the information. As students, we rely so heavily on multimedia communication. So it is better for us to be well verse in understanding the different ways media presents itself to us. This not only makes us strong learners but adaptable as well.
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