Because in our day and age there are so many different forms of writing available to us through various outlets, we have the capability of forgetting the importance of this sacred form of communication. Where would we be without written communication? It’s nearly impossible to imagine. Back when writing was a respectable skill, its importance was exceptional and critical. In the 1400’s, not only did scribes provide a way for people to learn, share, and read, but it solidified a key piece of evidence in history for “refreshing cultural memory” (67). We must also examine the literacy rate, which, throughout history, has grown significantly. With a higher level of intelligence and capability of understanding written word came the drive to attain more information and share it with the masses, thus tying cultures together and spreading ideas and events. It seems to me that Shirky included this fragment of history in his book so that we fully understand how our world is based around the expression of knowledge. Its evolution has evolved from handwritten manuscripts, to printing presses, to type-writers, to computers. The many ways to communicate written information is now endless with technological innovations such as phones and iPads. Sending messages, reporting the news, and writing books are just a few of the many examples of how deeply engrained written communication remains in our society and serves as a basic function of how we humans manifest our innate drive to work together.
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