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Reading at Risk
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From: Watson, Jamie <watson>
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 15:56:51 -0400
How nice that our discussion of Popular Culture is jibing with this oh-so-talked?out article!
I find it interesting that this editorial from the book review didn't get discussed anywhere at all, at least that I saw. It's almost a refutation of the study before the fact:
C8B63
The thing that bothers me about the NEA study is the elitist nature of its very premise. It asks: have you read fiction, poetry or drama" or what is considered "literature". Everyone be honest: When was the last time you, or anyone you knew, read a play purely for pleasure? Simply put, there are more things out there to read than just these forms. These are what
"readers" think readers should be reading. But it doesn't take into consideration ANY kind of non-fiction, graphic novels, internet reading
(which can include anythign form ebooks to fan fiction!) magazines or newspapers.
A similar comparison can be made if you asked: How often do you listen to classical music? Many people would say they do not. But there are so many more varieties of music to listen to now, from folk, rock, rap, etc. These are the things in the "popular culture" Do I think the world is in worse shape because fewer people are listening to classical music, I do not. Some would.
The world is a different place.Popular culture is just that, the culture that the populace wishes to enjoy. Anna Karenina is now in the popular culture. When I read it 2 years ago it was not. Oprah made it that way. How great!
I liked what Barbara Genco said earlier, about librarians needing to "give the children what they want." As a member of ALA's YALSA Quick Picks I have seen how "giving teens what they want,", even the most reluctant teens, has turned some of them into readers. Some broadened their horizons. Others just read more of the kinds of things they like (romances, graphic novels, rock star bios, etc.) If we, as librarians, only force feed the "greats" we will soon be a niche market like the classical music emporium or the alternative video store. Most every city has at least one of the above. But they have 10s or 100s of Blockbusters. Do we want to be the indie niche item, or do we want to be on every corner like Blockbuster or FYE? If we decide that the niche of the library is only to stock "literature" and not "popular culture" it won't surprise me to find most cities only having one library to visit as well. But if we want to reach the most people and do the most good, by sharing our joy of reading, we need to wallow in a bit of popular culture.
Also, as librarians and educators, it isn't surprising that we surround ourselves with other readers, so this article surprises us. My husband is not a reader. Many of my friends are not readers. So this doesn't surprise me in the slightest. It is important, as Ms. Nehring says in the article above, not to fetishize books and reading, but to take them for what they are, part of our rich culture that is not just made up of books, but of many many more things that we have ever had at our disposal!
Can you tell this is one of my soapboxes?!!!! And my first post to ccbc!
Jamie Watson Asst. Manager, Materials Harford County Public Library 1221-A Brass Mill Rd. Belcamp, MD 21017
(410)273V00 x. 276
Message----From: Norma Jean [mailto:nsawicki at nyc.rr.com] Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 2:50 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [ccbc-net] Reading at Risk
The National Endowment for the Arts released on Thursday a 60 page report, " Reading at Risk," which dove tails with the current discussion. The largest study of its kind, it describes a downward trend in book buying by Americans and a particular decline in the reading of fiction, poetry, and drama. Observations are made about the reading habits of adults as well as children/teenagers. For those interested, one can download this thoughtful/insightful...and depressing... report from the web site of the National Endowment for the Arts or request a free copy.
When the first children's book by Madonna was released, hoards of excited/screaming people were lined up to buy copies. The small number of people interviewed on the news wanted the book for their children because Madonna is a star whom they "love," and they therefore wanted their children to own her book. It had nothing whatsoever to do with reading; it was a book by a "star." What irritates me more than celebrity publishing is folk like Madonna and Jay Leno saying during interviews that they wrote a children book(s) because the children's books available are not very good, and the interviewer, unfortunately, goes along to get along...and does not ask how they came to that conclusion.
Folk interested in American history and/or popular culture know that the country goes through good and bad patches. From the chair in which I sit...we have been in a bad patch for a long time...and the " dumbing down of America" is not, in my judgement, a smart ass remark but an accurate observation. What I do not believe occurs to many folk, is that we are all part of the "culture," and as individuals, whether or not one holds a
"high," or "low " bar matters. No matter how one feels about the last election, one hopes it has shown, once and for all, that each vote matters. The same can be reading... what is published, how it is published, what is purchased by libraries, etc.
As a young editor, the president of the small publishing house that employed me, would not allow an employee to call another house and ask for a free copy of a book. He believed one would learn "something" if he/she walked into a bookstore and bought the book with one's own money. Based on reviews or word of mouth, I frequented what was then Scriber's bookstore with the intent of buying a particular book. Picture books I read in the store, and the number of times I left without spending $3.95 on the book were amazing. It taught me a great deal about my own taste/ judgement as an editor and also, something about marketing. It is a story I often told young folk in publishing...hint, hint...with few results. A former CEO, who was once exasperated about the number of free books the house was giving away, asked in a meeting, if folk had a friend working at Brooks Brothers, would he/she call and ask for a free shirt. Over these last few decades, books/reading have declined in value which is not to suggest there will not be a turnaround but those who care must speak louder and make observations that, in some circles, will be hard to hear. As I recently said to someone, I dialogue with no one, but a conversation is always welcomed. Sorry to ramble...on that note, the report is interesting, and well worth reading in its entirety. Norma Jean
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Received on Mon 12 Jul 2004 02:56:51 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 15:56:51 -0400
How nice that our discussion of Popular Culture is jibing with this oh-so-talked?out article!
I find it interesting that this editorial from the book review didn't get discussed anywhere at all, at least that I saw. It's almost a refutation of the study before the fact:
C8B63
The thing that bothers me about the NEA study is the elitist nature of its very premise. It asks: have you read fiction, poetry or drama" or what is considered "literature". Everyone be honest: When was the last time you, or anyone you knew, read a play purely for pleasure? Simply put, there are more things out there to read than just these forms. These are what
"readers" think readers should be reading. But it doesn't take into consideration ANY kind of non-fiction, graphic novels, internet reading
(which can include anythign form ebooks to fan fiction!) magazines or newspapers.
A similar comparison can be made if you asked: How often do you listen to classical music? Many people would say they do not. But there are so many more varieties of music to listen to now, from folk, rock, rap, etc. These are the things in the "popular culture" Do I think the world is in worse shape because fewer people are listening to classical music, I do not. Some would.
The world is a different place.Popular culture is just that, the culture that the populace wishes to enjoy. Anna Karenina is now in the popular culture. When I read it 2 years ago it was not. Oprah made it that way. How great!
I liked what Barbara Genco said earlier, about librarians needing to "give the children what they want." As a member of ALA's YALSA Quick Picks I have seen how "giving teens what they want,", even the most reluctant teens, has turned some of them into readers. Some broadened their horizons. Others just read more of the kinds of things they like (romances, graphic novels, rock star bios, etc.) If we, as librarians, only force feed the "greats" we will soon be a niche market like the classical music emporium or the alternative video store. Most every city has at least one of the above. But they have 10s or 100s of Blockbusters. Do we want to be the indie niche item, or do we want to be on every corner like Blockbuster or FYE? If we decide that the niche of the library is only to stock "literature" and not "popular culture" it won't surprise me to find most cities only having one library to visit as well. But if we want to reach the most people and do the most good, by sharing our joy of reading, we need to wallow in a bit of popular culture.
Also, as librarians and educators, it isn't surprising that we surround ourselves with other readers, so this article surprises us. My husband is not a reader. Many of my friends are not readers. So this doesn't surprise me in the slightest. It is important, as Ms. Nehring says in the article above, not to fetishize books and reading, but to take them for what they are, part of our rich culture that is not just made up of books, but of many many more things that we have ever had at our disposal!
Can you tell this is one of my soapboxes?!!!! And my first post to ccbc!
Jamie Watson Asst. Manager, Materials Harford County Public Library 1221-A Brass Mill Rd. Belcamp, MD 21017
(410)273V00 x. 276
Message----From: Norma Jean [mailto:nsawicki at nyc.rr.com] Sent: Friday, July 09, 2004 2:50 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [ccbc-net] Reading at Risk
The National Endowment for the Arts released on Thursday a 60 page report, " Reading at Risk," which dove tails with the current discussion. The largest study of its kind, it describes a downward trend in book buying by Americans and a particular decline in the reading of fiction, poetry, and drama. Observations are made about the reading habits of adults as well as children/teenagers. For those interested, one can download this thoughtful/insightful...and depressing... report from the web site of the National Endowment for the Arts or request a free copy.
When the first children's book by Madonna was released, hoards of excited/screaming people were lined up to buy copies. The small number of people interviewed on the news wanted the book for their children because Madonna is a star whom they "love," and they therefore wanted their children to own her book. It had nothing whatsoever to do with reading; it was a book by a "star." What irritates me more than celebrity publishing is folk like Madonna and Jay Leno saying during interviews that they wrote a children book(s) because the children's books available are not very good, and the interviewer, unfortunately, goes along to get along...and does not ask how they came to that conclusion.
Folk interested in American history and/or popular culture know that the country goes through good and bad patches. From the chair in which I sit...we have been in a bad patch for a long time...and the " dumbing down of America" is not, in my judgement, a smart ass remark but an accurate observation. What I do not believe occurs to many folk, is that we are all part of the "culture," and as individuals, whether or not one holds a
"high," or "low " bar matters. No matter how one feels about the last election, one hopes it has shown, once and for all, that each vote matters. The same can be reading... what is published, how it is published, what is purchased by libraries, etc.
As a young editor, the president of the small publishing house that employed me, would not allow an employee to call another house and ask for a free copy of a book. He believed one would learn "something" if he/she walked into a bookstore and bought the book with one's own money. Based on reviews or word of mouth, I frequented what was then Scriber's bookstore with the intent of buying a particular book. Picture books I read in the store, and the number of times I left without spending $3.95 on the book were amazing. It taught me a great deal about my own taste/ judgement as an editor and also, something about marketing. It is a story I often told young folk in publishing...hint, hint...with few results. A former CEO, who was once exasperated about the number of free books the house was giving away, asked in a meeting, if folk had a friend working at Brooks Brothers, would he/she call and ask for a free shirt. Over these last few decades, books/reading have declined in value which is not to suggest there will not be a turnaround but those who care must speak louder and make observations that, in some circles, will be hard to hear. As I recently said to someone, I dialogue with no one, but a conversation is always welcomed. Sorry to ramble...on that note, the report is interesting, and well worth reading in its entirety. Norma Jean
~ ~ ~ To reply to the entire CCBC-Net community, send a message to...
ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
To remove your address from the mailing list, send a message to...
listserv at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
...and type the following command in the body...
unsub ccbc-net
Received on Mon 12 Jul 2004 02:56:51 PM CDT
