There has been a massive decline in civilization, I find. Kids can't read, write, or even talk properly anymore. I just want to know if you think that this is it for literature. David Foster Wallace hanged himself a few years back, Salinger and Vonnegut are dead and there hasn't been a decent poet since Gregory corso died, do you think writing is dead?
I think that if we look at the last tend or so years, there has been a huge increase in the use of computers and related technologies. As an IT Trainer, I have witnessed an increasing preference for technological versions of activities which were once the sole domain of pen (or typewriter, or keyboard) and paper. I think that, if more writers - through their publishers - permitted the sale of their works in e-reader formats, it may make those works more attractive to a younger audience.
This is not to say that a younger audience will not and do not appreciate traditional printed books, merely that the electronic format may be more - what's the word? - familiar? comfortable? to them. I know that I held back from buying a Kindle for ages, but when I finally got one I couldn't put it down. Finally I could carry all of my favourite stories with me on a crowded London Underground train on my commutes and not have to drag a door-stopper of a book around with me.
In short, I don't think that literature is dead, nor do I think that civilisation is in decline. But I do think that, as ever, times, tastes and styles are changing. After all, we don't have monks with quills and ink hand-writing copies of our works at the publishers. We've moved on from that. I don't really see the current trend as anything more than a natural evolution, personally.
Does Literature still exist? (A rebuttal)
There is no evidence of a massive decline in civilisation; simply an increase in the frequency of reporting of uncivilised behaviour. In comparison with the last two centuries we live in a veritable garden. There is in any case little correlation between what we call civilisation, and artistic endeavour. It’s the catalyst of radical change that precipitates literary achievement, not bureaucracy and plumbing.
You seem to assume that there is a “correct” way to write and speak. I would argue that there is only an effective way, and that all else is simply, at the best fashion, and at the worst prejudice. All innovations are first seen as aberrations.
The technological developments you decry are in themselves providing higher levels of literacy and numeracy than ever before. There are more people alive now who can read and write, than the total for all the previous generations taken together. Furthermore, the technological advances have given whole groups that were previously un-published, a voice. Dyslectics like myself know, that the greatest achievement of the 20th century was the spell-checker.
Assuming you question is one of quality rather than quantity, then I would still answer yes. Try “The life of Pi” or The fear index”.
My younger son, whose 9, has suddenly started devouring the recent childrens' novels by David Walliams.
The stories are well written, touching and amusing and he can't get enough of them! Since Christmas, he has read three and was enthusiastically telling me about the characters. I agree with Gilly - children today are so surrounded by technology, that they don't seem to to realise how wonderful reading is.
I'm just glad my son is picking up a book and enjoying it. Anything that encourages children to read and enjoy books is a positive in my humble opinion.