Jealousy is, I think, the worst of all faults because it makes a victim of both parties. ~Gene Tierney

I admit it. I am jealous of Amy’s handwriting skills. The number of times I have had to interpret my writing for my team is humiliating.

Bolter (2001) observes that “each culture and each period has had its own complex economy of writing” (p. 21) and that as new technologies emerge, they may replace or supplement established technologies. Being a Gen Xer, I have taken typing classes, used ton-electric typewriters, and from a rural background, I have entered “penmanship” competitions. Our writing submissions were displayed alongside the best-made pies, jams and jellies, and the largest and most perfect vegetable specimens.

As noted in my response to Amy, my penmanship has dwindled over the years, and I see that my son struggles to read cursive because everything is written using electronic gadgets. While I understand the need to change and believe that the introduction of printing and later computers and other handheld electronics have improved the lives of those who struggle to read by providing a medium that text can be consistent in shape, size and spacing, I do miss the beauty of a letter penned by hand. Gutenberg’s bible is a perfect example of how form and beauty can be combined in print.

References:

Bolter, J. D. (2001). Writing space: Computers, hypertext, and the remediation of print (2nd ed). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Gene Tierney Quotes (n.d.). BrainyQuote. Retrieved March 29, 2023, from https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/gene-tierney-quotes