A Warning about Media in 1936.

Note: The National Council of Teachers of English was founded in 1911. The organization is celebrating its centennial. As part of this celebration, College English is publishing excerpts from its predecessor, the college edition of The English Journal. The excerpts are timely, a bit wordy and take their time to get to the point. However, I believe my readers will find them of interest. RayS.

Editorial: “The Writing on the Screen,” Vol. 25 (May 1936), 412-13.

 Quote: “It is more than possible that the screen and the loudspeaker already get more attention and wield more influence than printed fiction, drama and poetry combined; and we have to consider the probability that in the not distant future improved photoplays  and broadcast television are going to make deep inroads upon the present meager reading time of both adults and children. The sooner we set ourselves seriously to deal with photoplays and the radio the better we shall be prepared for this entirely possible metamorphosis of ‘literature.’ If we persist in neglecting our present duty we may find ourselves completely unready to meet the demands of the fourth decade of our century.” (413).

Comment: And that’s not half the inroads on the “meager reading time of both adults and children.” Computers, the Internet, cell phones, texting, cable and satellite TV, computer games, etc. RayS.

Title: “College English’s Precursor: Excerpts from the College Edition of The English Journal.” College English (November 2011), 157-191.