In the initial chapters (“Introduction: The Reading Wars” to “The Paper Chase: An Autobiographical Fragment”) of “The Gutenberg Elegies,” Sven Birkerts elucidates his opinions on the intellectual emergency occurring in current society. Birkerts, a lifelong reader, demands attention to humankind’s increasing dependence on technology and the negative effects on intellectual capabilities this dependence catalyzes. Through his recollection of experiences with colleagues, students, and family members, Birkerts demonstrates his frustration and struggle with the metamorphosis of society from one involving literature and wisdom to another relying on technological powers for knowledge. Although many of his colleagues view the transformation to technology as an improvement in productivity and accuracy in their work, Birkerts maintains his “luddite stance” (Birkerts 3) in which he dismisses the possibility of relying on technology to accomplish his work. Birkerts does not reject the capabilities and power of technology, but rather is convinced “language and not technology is the true evolutionary miracle” (Birkerts 6) and the complete shift to electronic culture will become detrimental to society’s intellectual abilities.
After reading chapter 2 of “The Gutenberg Elegies,” I personally established a closer connection to Birkerts’ way of thinking and strong relationship literature. As a child, I was a dedicated and passionate reader of a wide range of texts beginning with my first chapter book, “The BFG” by Roald Dahl and transitioning to more advanced texts such as Thoreau’s “Walden” by my junior year of high school. Birkerts describes his experience with reading as an escape from reality in which he was able to “slip into [the character’s] skin” (Birkerts 36) which I particularly related to as I often utilize literature to relax and remove myself from the stresses of school, work, and personal struggles. In chapter 2, Birkerts also mentions how his father urged him to cease his passion for literature as he considered it to be feminine and believed “doing [should be] prized over being or thinking” (Birkerts 38); this point also connected to my personal life as my own father did not share my passion for literature and often questioned why I read in my free time rather than practicing for the sports I participated in. In my own viewpoint, I believe reading is supportive in character development and expanding one’s knowledge as well as giving our current generation a break from continuously gazing at a computer screen as so many of us do. Despite this, I do not agree with Birkerts’ viewpoint regarding the decrease in intellectual capabilities that he believes technology has contributed to. In chapter 1, Birkerts claims “our historically sudden transition into an electronic culture has thrust us into a place of unknowing...looking at our society, we see no real leaders, no larger figures of wisdom.” (Birkerts 21) Although I understand Birkerts’ meaning of this statement that our society has created a certain reliance on technology for knowledge, I do not agree that this necessarily means our society has created such a dependence on technology that wisdom has subsided and in actuality, technology may have sparked different forms of intellectualism. In relation to this point, the essay “Hidden Intellectualism” by Gerald Graff, identifies that intellect can arise from different subjects outside of academics involving literature and reading which I believe can also include electronic literacy in which one excels in technology. In our current society, technology plays an important role Birkerts does not identify in which it can expand knowledge rather than minimize it. Literature and language is important in developing one’s character and intellect, but technology should not be rejected entirely as it can also aid in expanding knowledge.
After reading the first few chapters of “The Gutenberg Elegies,” I predict that Birkerts will follow in the direction of providing more autobiographical instances that have shaped his views on technology and possibly why he specifically rejects the implantation of technology into society. In chapter 2, Birkerts detailed personal experiences that occurred before his introduction to electronic culture, so it is practical to assume he will mention his interactions with technology subsequently to detail why he has a negative view on it. Also, it is possible that Birkerts will supply a solution for society to defer away from the dependence on technology in the next few chapters. The opinions that Birkerts sets in these chapters leave me wondering if Birkerts considers those who excel in technology intellectuals and why he believes there is no true wisdom or leaders left when scholars continue to produce work (does he not consider their work to be respectable or knowledgeable?). Secondly, I am left wondering what Birkerts’ opinions are towards those who do not read literature regularly as there have always been individuals who do not willingly read even before technology was introduced. Lastly, it can be inferred that Birkerts has not likely had sufficient experience with technology which leads me to wonder how he is in such opposition to electronic culture if he has had no extensive experience with it. Overall, in order to persuade his point, it is necessary for Birkerts to delve into why he rejects technology specifically through his own experiences and provide a solution for how society can overcome the current dependence.
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