History of Writing and Reading

Catalog description

Humans have used language for many millennia, but it was the invention of writing about 5000 years ago, along with its subsequent re-inventions, that led to the hyper-connected world we live in now. This course traces the history of writing and reading from cuneiform and hieroglyphs to the internet, highlighting the origins of the alphabet, the book, and the printing press, as well as the development of literature as an art form. Readings will address the attributes of oral culture vs. literate culture, the implications of mass literacy, and the impact of digital media.