The Future of the Book

In chapter 4 of Amaranth Borsuk’s “The Book,” she discusses how the physical book has been translated into its digital counterpart. In the same way that scrolls evolved into codices, books have evolved into the digital format. As the internet expands, so do the efforts to digitize books and make them available, resulting in digital archives and the emergence of e-readers. While there may be apprehension towards the digital books and how that changes the way people read and absorb information, Jessica Pressman reassures that “the book will not become obsolete with new reading platforms, but rather, will change and develop new incarnations and readerships; it will continue to serve certain kinds of literacy needs and literary desires.” In fact, Borsuk goes on to explain how authors, publishers, and readers are adapting to a digital reading space in which we are at the crossroads of bookish innovation. In this era of digital media and publication, there is a wide avenue for authors to decide how they want to convey their message. Much like the modernists who responded to the stiff Victorian books, we are pushing the boundaries of what makes a book a book. Erik Loyer’s digital book, “Strange Rain,” utilizes technology in a way that enhances the reader’s experience. Holding the phone or tablet up to the ceiling to convey the image of a skylight helps relay Loyer’s idea and allows the reader to become absorbed into the mindset of the main character. This unique reading experience changes the way the reader views the book. It blurs the lines between technology and books. Borsuk continues to discuss these digital formats and introduces Dick Higgins’ term, “intermedia.” This term perfectly encapsulates this new era of reading in which format and content, technology and book, collide in a new exploratory form that can go in any direction based on the creator’s intention.

2 thoughts on “The Future of the Book

  1. Hi Dakota,
    From the reading this week I liked the many innovations that Borsuk described between the various iterations of digital media and literature that shape who we read on devices today. I appreciate how you defined that through these newer digital iterations of books we are, “pushing the boundaries of what makes a book a book.” Every new device, every new screen that can be read from redefines what can be viewed as and classified as a book, and these boundaries that are expanded create a broader definition of not just what book is, but what reading is. Thank you for your post!

  2. Hey Dakota, I liked how you described the shift from the codex to digital formats as part of the same long evolution. The idea of “intermedia” makes a lot of sense to me, especially how it shows that technology and books are not really separate anymore. What I really enjoyed was your example of Strange Rain. It’s very interesting how holding the screen can become part of the story and how, even in a digital space, reading still happens through movement and touch.

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