Using World Literature to Understand the Emerging Media Landscape
What is it about?
This article is about utilizing recent fiction and non-fiction, particularly World Literature to help explain how digital technology is changing our social environment. Originally, Professor Marshall McLuhan used his background and knowledge of English Literature in his pioneering efforts to understand media. The narrative here advocates building on, updating, and extending these practices for our times. More specifically, it utilizes a recent translation of Brazilian Machado de Assis’s classic Posthumous Memoir of Bras Cubas and other current titles as examples in this process. In addition, within the article, the spiral image emerges as a helpful means of representing and interpreting these works as well as advancing our knowledge and wisdom.
Why is it important?
The importance of the article lies in its emphasis on reading as a important tool for understanding digital media. McLuhan was a voracious reader and one can pursue a similar course for entertainment and enlightenment utilizing electronic access to a wide variety of sources from around the world. Broadening one’s perspective with diverse material assists in interpreting technology impacts and current events is both worthwhile and enjoyable. Books referenced range from novels by the classic Brazilian writer Machado de Assis and Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to recent titles by business strategist Geoffrey Moore, investment guru Ray Dalio, and astrophysicist Janna Levin.