Doug Eyman continues to confuse me with these excerpts. We spoke in class about what the word digital meant. Even then, I was a bit confused. After reading Eyman’s thoughts on the word digital, I have some thoughts.
Overall I enjoyed the reading. There were some good tidbits from other scholars. I found it interesting how the word digital can mean so much. As a person born in 2002, I never saw this perspective.
Digital History
Eyman gets into the history of digital rhetoric through out this article. Haas stated that ancient civilizations were the origins of digital rhetoric. He goes on to credit even hieroglyphs. Prior to reading this, I would have never related the words digital and hieroglyphs, at all. After reading this, I understand the very long connection.
It makes me wonder if there is an argument for cave paintings. The ones you see in movies like Ice Age. Are those somehow digital? If we use the angle of relating fingers and toes? I am very interested in history. I love learning how civilizations and languages developed. This topic of what is digital allows me to learn about that as well. I can’t say I expected that.
Reading
Eyman also quotes Manovich who said that texts are a way of sharing new ideas and ways of interpreting the world. This quote provoked a lot of thoughts.
I used to be a huge reader when I was a child. From Percy Jackson to Harry Potter, I loved reading books. That stopped after probably sixth grade. I didn’t read any books or articles at all outside of school work. Once I got to college, I started reading a lot again. Now, I love to read when I can.
And I believe that we all should.
I have friends who simply don’t read and have not read since they were young. As an adult, I believe it is important to be reading SOMETHING. Aside from social media. I believe it truly does inspire creativity and offer new perspectives. Whether I am reading a book on mental health or Star Wars, I always feel better after as opposed to scrolling on social media.
I know that the article here was talking about linking text and digital rhetoric. However, it provided me a platform to push reading onto my peers.
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