It is not very clear to me how to respond to Walter Ong’s “Orality and Literacy.” Should the response be analytical? Should it reflect the medium we are sharing it through?
My initial thoughts are as follows:
I disagree with the analysis that formulary writing is counterproductive, even in modern society with an (obvious) emphasis on the written word. Theoretically, I agree the argument that it allows the mind to be “freed …. for more original, more abstract thought.” (p. 23) However, I think this statement fails to acknowledge the value of [primary] oral cultures, even oral cultures today. It is indeed difficult for me to even imagine a culture untouched by the written word, entirely unaware of language on paper – beyond the sound of our voice, the nuances of speech, the importance of memory, and community as one’s sounding board. The privilege of literacy is an important concept to reflect on as we address issues of accessibility at ITP and in Ong’s own analysis, assessed through a lens ingrained in the privilege of literacy.
Reflecting on oral tradition and culture could prove to be of tremendous value in tech- and mobile- focused information sharing. Early in Ong’s piece, he notes the formulaic nature of early poetics in the oral tradition. Writing for technology is also very formulaic in structure. The specific mechanisms and formulations used in writing for technology tends to flow in easily scanned, digestible short pieces such as tweets, texts, and bulleted lists on blogs.
Rediscovering the lost “magic” of oral tradition would add tremendous value in modern communication methods. I think it would be interesting to hear the breadth of language and interactions captured in StoryCorps audio collection. The basic format of StoryCorps has one individual interview another subject who typically has an established relationship with the former: sibling, partner, etc. How would these histories change if this technology were accessible in areas where the literacy rate is abysmally sub par compared to first world standards? Ong left me with many questions about the current and future states of communications and modernity in relation to issues of accessibility and privilege.