Writing and the Digital Generation: Essays on New Media Rhetoric

by Heather Urbanski (Editor)

Is it true that, in this era of digitization and mass media, reading and writing are on the decline? In a thought-provoking collection of essays and profiles, 30 contributors explore what may instead be a rise in rhetorical activity, an upsurge due in part to the sudden blurring of the traditional roles of creator and audience in participatory media. This collection explores topics too often overlooked by traditional academic scholarship, though critical to an exploration of rhetoric and popular culture, including fan fiction, reality television, blogging, online role-playing games, and Fantasy Football. Both scholarly and engaging, this text draws rhetorical studies into the digital age.

Genres: Teaching, Nonfiction, Writing

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2010

Reviews

[DWRL Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This edited collection addresses concerns over the effects of digital communication practices on traditional rhetorical processes and products. An enthusiastic overtone runs across its 30 essays, which address popular and participatory culture via discussions of fan fiction, blogging and online gaming, among others. This is a worthwhile read for scholars as well as non-academics interested in the many worlds of online discourse.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of the very bland and generic title, the majority of the subject matter is fandom-related, including a very enjoyable recounting/analysis of a classic dating-Zachary-Quinto-on-the-astral-plane wank (remember when FW was still funny? Sigh). Even the longer 'essays' are pretty short, and half the pieces are very brief 'profiles'.