Post-Literacy

The latest issue of World contains a good article by Janie B. Cheaney examining a few dynamics of the "post-literacy" culture we're finding ourselves in.From the article:

"Another characteristic of oral cultures is an incomplete sense of self.At the dawn of the Middle Ages, Augustine of Hippo pioneered a new typeof literature: the psychological memoir. His Confessions is the anatomyof a human soul that lost, then found, its way. Perhaps for that veryreason it is incomprehensible to Professor Bertonneau's students.Subject to an educational system—and a parental style—that flatterstheir esteem but neglects their souls, they don't have the capacity forhonest soul-searching. Encouraged to be self-absorbed, they areanything but self-aware."

Read the whole thing.