Transliteracy: Crossing Divides – a response

“The concept of transliteracy calls for a change of perspective away from the battles over print versus digital, and a move instead towards a unifying ecology not just of media, but of all literacies relevant to reading, writing, interaction and culture, both past and present.”

This is refreshing as it tries to encapsulate media literacy and digital literacy, and applies to all modes, across different platforms, media and tools, culture.  It also considers how these interact with each other.  The use of the word ecology is really quite apt.  There is a whole eco-system of literacies that our students will need to have to be sufficiently equipped to function in their world.

Some case studies mentioned stood out and it leads me to think  if there is any way to introduce new technologies in a way that would respect the boundaries and rhythm of communication, the social network, preserving and at the same time enhancing the economic and political prospect of people’s lives?

I am drawn to the stories told of the Australian aborigines and the Asheninka where writing is seen as delimiting and ‘the interdependence of the spoken stories and the sensible landscape’ where auditory mnemonic and the sight of locations evokes particular memory of songs and stories.

Eco–philosopher David Abram uses of the term ‘seen as a peculiar form of violence’ when describing the act of having oral stories written down and published and disseminated, as this very act of preserving the voice and story of the Australian Aborigines, tears them from the ‘visible landscape and the topographical features that materially embody and provoke them.’

It is a sobering thought.

This also leads me to think of the ‘visible landscape and the topographical features’ not only of the past but of the present and the future.  The emerging and transforming landscape of the digital culture, and how this is impacting education in and out of the classrooms. There is a sense of fluidity, but also could be seen as ‘violence’ when the old is taken away, and quickly replaced by the new. But there again, it can be different.

This brings to mind Sanford Biggers: The Cartographer’s Conundrum.  This incredible installation defies the regular landscape, and represent multiple layers of meaning through the fragment of broken mirrors, instruments, and these are suspended in mid-air.  There are pews in front of what looks like an altar in a church.  Sanford Biggers combines science fiction, cosmology and technology to create a new folklore of the African Diaspora. To me this represents a not so violent way of bringing about cultural change.

Display at Mass Mocca

Consider the use of the space in the warehouse,  with this installation.   Read more about Stanford Biggers.

Reference: Thomas, S et al (2007) Transliteracy: crossing divides. First Monday. 12(12). [web site]