The Lost Art of Letter Writing
A long time ago, I wrote that I embraced technology but missed some of the old things from the past. Recently it occurred to me that what I miss the most is reading hand-written letters from my friends and family. In today’s age of instant communications, it’s fair to say that traditional letter writing has become a bit of an ever-fading form of art.
Electronic communications are instant, dirt cheap, easy, and quickly setting the standard for today’s correspondence. They are also lacking in emotion, and as such, are generally quite impersonal. In my mind, there is no way to digitally replicate the emotions and excitement that results from opening a paper envelope that bears stamps and a handwritten address. The only thing better than finding a letter inside is to find photographs enclosed alongside the handwritten letter.
Typed letters or letters that are printed off of a computer don’t qualify as handwritten letters in my estimation because they were not created by hand using a pen and paper.
The unintended outcome of the invention of the Internet was the changing of centuries of traditional forms of writing. Instead of writing, literature, and books being printed using ink and paper, they are now digitally rendered on a computer screen. This transformation of writing changed journals into blogs, books into eBooks, and printed information into websites.
The rise of eBooks was likely an attempt on the part of publishers to make modern technology more suitable for old-school readers (like me), who prefer pages to scroll bars. Unfortunately, technology has yet to duplicate that age old feeling of holding a good piece of literature in your hands as you turn the pages one by one, basking in its glory.
What I miss the most about old-school writing is the waiting in anticipation. Yes, I said waiting. The concept of waiting and the virtue of patience is one that, due to emerging technologies has become overlooked by today’s generation, who demand and expect instant gratification. The truth is that before this explosion of technology, the good things in life generally took time.
While technology has made some things faster, I agree that in some circumstances, faster really is better. But when it comes to writing, there will never ever be any substitute to hand-written words on paper. In fact, 90% of what I write started on paper, and after being edited mercilessly, was then, later typed and added to my blog. It seems that even with technology, a select few of us still rely upon the tools were were raised to utilize.
Posted under Photography, Writing
“The Lost Art of Letter Writig” is a beautiful, intelligent, and provacative piece. Many thinkers, both elderly and young, have deplored the loss of that literary art. The Internett with its rampant dissociated blogging can hardly compare with the magnificent letter writing of the past three centuries.
The Internet was originally created (and financially funded by the U. S. government)for the benefit of scientists and others for the purpose of speedily shaning and exchanging knowledge, invention and discovery with all. When brash commercialism entered the picture, the Internet and its rampant e-mails took the place of telephonic converrsation. E-mail is not as instantaneous as speaking on the tube, but the interim provides extra time for reflection and consideration before repying. Letter writing provides all the time one cares for prolonged reflection, consideration, and word selection. That additional times is the key to great literature.
There is a pertinent advantage to letter writing using the computer. Soome of us have a hand writing that is totally undecipherable. The computer affords us the opportunity for reflection and consideration, but also opens the door for quotations, source identification and illustrration, like photographs. Under these circumstances, letter writing art may be resurrected.
Letter writing is enjoyed not only by the recipient, but also by the sender. I used to write to my son while he was away at college and my wife and I enjoyed the letters as much (?) as my son. On the other hand, he preferred the quick and easy telephone. It is too bad that neither he nor my wife saved the many love letters and poetry mailed to them. I would love to read them now.
Hey, I noticed your comment on my friend Talea’s blog and thought I’d pop over to check you out and I am so happy to have found a letter writer!
I’m still really big on letter writing, it started when I made my first zine in the early 90s. There are many people I email almost everyday that I still exchange letters in the post with because it’s such a treat to get a note in the mail, especially a note with a surprise of somekind. Photos are wonderful, as you mentioned, I also like to tuck in other wee little things.
I also like to make homemade postcards and send them out when I want to show someone some effort but I can’t find time to write a whole letter. Great post.
May - First of all, thank you for visiting my blog and posting a comment. Sadly, nobody sends me hand-written letters anymore, and my friends are so busy that sending them one only results in an electronic reply. It’s sad really.
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