This one is admittedly a bit more rambly, a set of random thoughts put together, but a good discussion topic just the same. I’m not calling conspiracy or anything like that, so accuse me of anything. This isn’t some planned attack…as far as I know anyway, though given some of the parties involved I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be case either out of elitism or greed. That’s how the division began though.
Back in the old days when books, scripts, and what have you had to be transcribed by hand few people had books. Before every hotel had a Bible in the nightstand (I’m not sure if that still happens but I kind of hope it does) only the church had copies and you had to accept their context if not their actual reading. Otherwise only the rich and the transcribers themselves could afford books. I don’t know for sure how much exaggeration that is because I’m no historian. What I do know is that the invention of the printing press changed all that. And as the technology got less expensive so did the books. Numerous theaters around the world could act out the same play. The peasant could have numerous books in their home from fiction to cookbooks. Rinse and repeat with every form of media since print. Radios were first owned by the rich but as they became cheaper everyone could have one in their home, all but replaced by television.
Now with computers and new software even making prose, videos, and audio is so much easier and so much more of it can be produced. However, with every up in life there is a down and moving everything online is coming with a cost. Printing prices have somehow gone up, and with it books and comics while finding anything is becoming harder in some ways rather than easier. It’s not a crisis yet, but there are some courses to correct or at least trends to keep an eye on, because paywalls are making things harder again and actually limiting choices.
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The Slow De-Casualing Of Modern Storytelling
This one is admittedly a bit more rambly, a set of random thoughts put together, but a good discussion topic just the same. I’m not calling conspiracy or anything like that, so accuse me of anything. This isn’t some planned attack…as far as I know anyway, though given some of the parties involved I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned out to be case either out of elitism or greed. That’s how the division began though.
Back in the old days when books, scripts, and what have you had to be transcribed by hand few people had books. Before every hotel had a Bible in the nightstand (I’m not sure if that still happens but I kind of hope it does) only the church had copies and you had to accept their context if not their actual reading. Otherwise only the rich and the transcribers themselves could afford books. I don’t know for sure how much exaggeration that is because I’m no historian. What I do know is that the invention of the printing press changed all that. And as the technology got less expensive so did the books. Numerous theaters around the world could act out the same play. The peasant could have numerous books in their home from fiction to cookbooks. Rinse and repeat with every form of media since print. Radios were first owned by the rich but as they became cheaper everyone could have one in their home, all but replaced by television.
Now with computers and new software even making prose, videos, and audio is so much easier and so much more of it can be produced. However, with every up in life there is a down and moving everything online is coming with a cost. Printing prices have somehow gone up, and with it books and comics while finding anything is becoming harder in some ways rather than easier. It’s not a crisis yet, but there are some courses to correct or at least trends to keep an eye on, because paywalls are making things harder again and actually limiting choices.
Continue reading →
Tell others about the Spotlight:
Posted by ShadowWing Tronix on August 10, 2022 in Uncategorized and tagged commentary.
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