Books in the Digital Age: The Future of Writing Dr Mark Bahnisch Creative Industries Faculty, QUT; School of Humanities, Griffith; Fellow of the Centre for Policy Development 11 August 2009 Queensland Writers Centre Wordpool

The future of the book “ All appearances to the contrary, this death of the book undoubtedly announces (and in a certain sense has always announced) nothing but a death of speech (of a so-called full speech) and a new mutation in the history of writing, in history as writing. Announces it at a distance of a few centuries. It is on that scale that we must reckon it here.” – Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology

“ All appearances to the contrary, this death of the book undoubtedly announces (and in a certain sense has always announced) nothing but a death of speech (of a so-called full speech) and a new mutation in the history of writing, in history as writing. Announces it at a distance of a few centuries. It is on that scale that we must reckon it here.” – Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology

The issue/s Writing beyond the book and beyond print What is the relationship between technologies and practices? Textualities and technologies of writing? Are we all writers now? In a digital culture? The cultural economics of writing and publishing Futures of information and journalism; disseminations

Writing beyond the book and beyond print

What is the relationship between technologies and practices?

Textualities and technologies of writing?

Are we all writers now? In a digital culture?

The cultural economics of writing and publishing

Futures of information and journalism; disseminations

Technologies and techno-politics of writing Technologies and social practices – the telephone in 19 th century London The book is a technology “ We have never been modern” – democratisation, ownership and canons The sacrality of the text; or breaking open the text The function of the reader and the writer

Technologies and social practices – the telephone in 19 th century London

The book is a technology

“ We have never been modern” – democratisation, ownership and canons

The sacrality of the text; or breaking open the text

The function of the reader and the writer

Digital cultures; digital natives? What are digital cultures? Are there ‘digital natives’? No… ‘ Active readers’ (Landow 2006) Reinscription and the hyperlink society Is a ‘conversation’ the best way of modelling this? No… Digital and vernacular literacies Everything new is also old We are all Facebookers now

What are digital cultures?

Are there ‘digital natives’? No…

‘ Active readers’ (Landow 2006)

Reinscription and the hyperlink society

Is a ‘conversation’ the best way of modelling this? No…

Digital and vernacular literacies

Everything new is also old

We are all Facebookers now

The cultural economics of writing and publishing One to many v. many to many Barriers to entry Dedifferentiation – the end of the professional writer? Disseminations, communities and multiple publics rather than a digital public sphere

One to many v. many to many

Barriers to entry

Dedifferentiation – the end of the professional writer?

Disseminations, communities and multiple publics rather than a digital public sphere

Futures “Information wants to be free” Issues: What happens to the literary? What happens to the shaping of narratives? Where did linearity go? Monitorial or active publics? The self as self-authored

“Information wants to be free”

Issues:

What happens to the literary?

What happens to the shaping of narratives?

Where did linearity go?

Monitorial or active publics?

The self as self-authored

Discussion! Questions, comments, criticisms Thank you!

Questions, comments, criticisms

Thank you!