In the infancy of the human race, language may have been the result of exaptation, because, supposedly, humans evolved into an upright state, which allowed for humans to begin making words. Maybe it is because we started giving random sounds meaning, and this led to language. Maybe you don't believe in evolution at all. Where language comes from will always be up for debate, however, its importance is irrevocably obvious.
From spoken word there came the written word. In Egypt this idea of writing down events, religious symbolism, mythology, and tradition led to the creation of papyrus. Allowing for a portable method of transcription. The ancient Greeks spread the ideas of philosophy through the use of written and spoken language. These pieces of human mental evolution are still important to our modern outlook on life. Stories like those of Homer, the epic tales that are still part of our combined mythos. Then the roman Empire brought us even farther advancements with such minds as that of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. Why do we still know these names, and what they thought, said, or did? Because of the written word.
This ability to take coherent thoughts, place them with ink on paper has offered humanity its first glimpse of immortality. The human may die, but their spirit, through their thoughts can live on. This can be for good or for bad, as all things in this world, but none the less these people had attained a divine status.
In the medieval times, literacy became a life long goal. Monks in Europe spent their entire lives lovingly transcribing the bible by hand. Writing had become a religious calling, and by it these words changed the lives of those who read, or even just were read to from this holy book.
Eventually writing became easier, as the printing press was invented. Suddenly the Bible became available to the masses, and thus is the strength of the written word, the Church began losing power. People like Martin Luther, within 100 years of the invention of the printing press, had started to bring down the power that the Church of the time had maintained for so long. Information became more available as time continually progressed.
At one point in history, it was unlikely that anyone in a family could read. Then there was a bible in many households. Then there were bookshelves full of this precious resource, the written word, in many people's homes. Now many people are connected to the internet, and this brings me to what I feel is important.
I know this focused mainly on the European evolution of writing, but the idea remains the same. Writing down what a person feels is important has a profound impact on the world that surrounds him or her. The pen is truly mightier than the sword.
Now, here I am at a computer typing this out, and for days it has seemed clear to me. With Facebook, Myspace, Xanga, Blogger, and Twitter there has never, in the history of the world, been an easier way for a person with amazing thoughts and ideas, to make them available to a large portion of the world. Never has there been such an unlimited access to information. Never has a person with no name, been able to build a following. Never has writing been so futile.
In this cacophony that is the internet, we all have a voice. Every single person who has any access to the internet (the number who don't diminishes continually it would seem) has a voice that is so loud, that a person in the heart of China, can speak to a person living in the middle of the United States. However, with so many voices all chiming in at once, what is left but a continual din of each voice, slowly fusing into one mangled mesh of what was once a powerful tool.
Even as I write this now, I realize I only am contributing to this mess, but for some reason I feel compelled to continue. It is amazing, fantastic, impressive, and disheartening. We have so much, but gain so little.
No comments:
Post a Comment