A great deal of material discussed today, with much of it revolving around the human tendency to, according to McCluan(sp?)whom Ong discusses at length, to interiorize and sentimentalize technology(not necessarily in that order). Meaning, we become so accostumed to certain modes of communication, such as letters and the telephone and email, that the just end up seeming completely natural and normal to us, whereas those who have absorbed past technological forms decry the new forms as unnatural. But of course McCluan also states that all technology(including language) is an extension of the body, and therefore interiorizing it becomes "natural".

Janna's blog quoted a great phrase from page 34 of Ong , about the need to "think memorable thoughts." This begs the question of what consitutes memorable thoughts. Francis Yates brings up in her book the notion that memory is helped, if not cemented by, associations that are flat-out grotesque and disturbing. This may be one of the reasons why art in the Middle Ages tended to focus on horrific things like the tortures of hell and formidable gargoyles and that sort of thing(this could lead into a whole other issue about the nature of the human imagination, and about how things that are horrific or threatningly horrific, like a hell of eternal torment, holds greater mnemotic sway than the possibilties of heaven. But never mind). This also reminds me a bit of a book I read during break called Enduring Love by Ian McEwan. Don't let the title fool you. It's very creepy.

I learned what the term luddism means today. It means being actively opposed to technology, and was named for a 19th century Englishman named Ludd who revolted against all technolgy. But of course, his contribution to chirographic(writing) and typographic(having to do with the world of print)worlds has being the coining of a word, which we write and discuss. Rather ironic really.

I can also add to the inexhaustable list of things to read Italo Calvino's Castle Across Destinies(awesome, no, epic title!). And we are to blog about a passage from Kane Yates or Ong.