P8: Literacy in Three Metaphors and New Literacy

"What is literacy?" -Sylvia Scribner 

". . .Young people today write far more than any generation before them." -Clive Thompson 

Sylvia Scribner's "Literacy in Three Metaphors" describes the gaps within our definition of literacy and the multiple functions literacy can have within society. Literacy can be a vital tool for survival, a means for elites to guard power, or a way to create peace between those of different doctrines. I thought it was interesting to take a look at literacy historically and culturally because time and social norms warp and generate the true meaning of literacy. Literacy has never had a full definition which makes it harder to assess how many people are literate and difficult to know what standard to teach people to. 


Clive Thompson emphasizes how an increase in casual, or "life", writing has allowed for students to adapt their writing to their audience. Generations before ours didn't' utilize texting, blogging or social networking; media platforms that all utilize text in one way or another. Thompson points out that despite general impressions that students writing is becoming worse and worse, writing is actually changing and adapting instead. Our world is changing with increases in technology and globalization, therefore many aspects of our lives will change as well including how we write and read.


I think that these articles both point to the changes in literacy that occur. Definitions and requirements for literacy have changed over the years and continue today to be loosely defined. Cultures can also influence the definition of literacy, as some may emphasize more structural, practical writing and others require further more academic skills. Culture and technology influence literacy in what we read, how we read, and how we respond as well.  These authors both highlight the need for adaptive and innovative writing as we learn to utilize technology and media in our changing world.