I haven't seen this discussed here. A cell phone company in Great Britain has enlisted a former English professor to create text message synopses of great works of literature, supposedly as a study aid for students. The works include, "Paradise Lost," Pride and Prejudice" and the Canterbury Tales" as well as the complete works of William Shakespeare.
A columnist for the Miami Herald, Leonard Pitts Jr., objects to this trend. He recently wrote:
"There is wisdom and insight in books that cannot be readily reduced to a few characters on a cell phone screen. There is music and cadence in them that you simply cannot transmit with symbols and emoticons...
"No, for my money this is simply another example of a growing stupidization - put away your dictionary, I made it up - that infects our culture like a virus, rendering it faster than ever before, but also dumber and more shallow. And apparently not just our culture. I mean, I had always thought of stupidization as an American affliction, so I don't know whether to be relieved or appalled to see it also showing up in Britain, where erudition was raised and eloquence keeps a summer home.
"2b?Nt2b???Give me a break.
Better yet, give me a book."
I agree with Pitts. Any thoughts anyone? (Notice how he shows such reverence for the British and their proper English.)
A columnist for the Miami Herald, Leonard Pitts Jr., objects to this trend. He recently wrote:
"There is wisdom and insight in books that cannot be readily reduced to a few characters on a cell phone screen. There is music and cadence in them that you simply cannot transmit with symbols and emoticons...
"No, for my money this is simply another example of a growing stupidization - put away your dictionary, I made it up - that infects our culture like a virus, rendering it faster than ever before, but also dumber and more shallow. And apparently not just our culture. I mean, I had always thought of stupidization as an American affliction, so I don't know whether to be relieved or appalled to see it also showing up in Britain, where erudition was raised and eloquence keeps a summer home.
"2b?Nt2b???Give me a break.
Better yet, give me a book."
I agree with Pitts. Any thoughts anyone? (Notice how he shows such reverence for the British and their proper English.)