Nietzsche and the writing ball

I would like to reference a short passage from The Shallows, by Nicholas Carr, in reference to how I see text represented. Textual creation is very personal, ever changing, or ‘woven’, and is certainly not beholden to the written word, but Carr reminds readers with this short ode by Nietzsche that technology can be used to free a ‘text’ within us. We are reminded also, especially now, that our creation of text is deeply and irrevocably fused with what we use to create it.

The writing ball is a thing like me: made of iron
Yet easily twisted on journeys.
Patience and tact are required in abundance
As well as fine fingers, to use us.

Carr, N. (2011). What the Internet is Doing to our Brains. New York, USA. W.W. Norton & Company Inc.

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