Blog #4

In the article, “Writing in the 21st Century” by Katherine Blake Yancey, she explores the growing and rapidly changing realm of technology and composition that is encompassing all facets of society. She expounds upon the historical significance of writing, in addition to its gradual movement from being negligible to significant. Writing has long been perpetuated as less than and undesirable, specifically in comparison to reading. This is largely due in part to the societal control enacted that creates a systematic way of reading and censoring. Therefore, lack of availability and access as well as the labor pains associated with writing long portrayed writing in a negative light. The distinction from handwriting was also blurred, making the art of writing appear to be a rudimentary skill. However, the growth of technology has allowed for “self-sponsored writing,” that is, the appropriation of assertiveness and initiative within communities and societies unlike ever before. The desire to write has grown as a result, especially due to the user-friendly and all-encompassing way that technology and the internet has allowed for. Yancey proposes that the “role of writing for the public,” “new curriculum for K-graduate school,” and “new models of teaching,” all be implemented in order to accommodate and keep pace with the technologically changing societal view of composition and writing.
This article was by far the most impressive out of all of the articles and drove the point home with regard to the importance and significance of writing in all societal realms. The prevalence of writing and composition cannot be denied, and the redefining nature that technology has boosted is certainly significant to the field of Editing, Writing and Media. Specifically, the asides at the end of the paragraphs throughout the article, “And still…people wrote,” definitely contributed to the effectiveness of the argument within the article and allowed for contextual understanding of the significance and deeply rooted nature of writing within society. If I could speak with the author, I would express excitement and heightened interest that resulted after reading the article.