No wires needed

It has always been the nature of cultural storytelling that when a new medium is created, the old inevitably fades away. The creation of written language pushed graphic artifacts into obscurity. Books and paper banished stone and wood carving. Now, a new battle is being fought, and it is truly “the best of times, and the worst of times, the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness.”

At the advent of television, very few people believed that technology would become as widely spread as it is today. Now, the majority of homes in the United States have a television, and a large percentage of those have satellite capability. For many people, no other mode of communication or entertainment compares to today’s digital innovations. In the current epoch, children “plug themselves in” to their 42-inch plasma screens, hi-def surround sound and Blu-ray movies rather than engrossing themselves in a book by a favorite author, if even they have one. It seems that for this generation, reading for entertainment is becoming a thing of the past, relegated to those “poor” little kids who do not have so much as cable.

It is a solace that some believe wholeheartedly television can, in no way, remotely compare to the simple pleasure of bivouacking in an easy chair and delving into the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Tom Sawyer, the heroic Sydney Carton or the fiendish Dorian Grey.

The proof is in the proverbial pudding; isn’t the book always better than the movie?

Consider this challenge: In one minute, identify five movies taken from literature that surpass in quality the novels upon which they were based. This is a formidable challenge, if not impossible, because no movie director, not even Peter Jackson, who has directed such blockbusters as “The Lord of the Rings” and “King Kong,” can transform a several-hundred-page novel and do it justice in a paltry two- to three-hour movie.

Admittedly, there have been truly great enduring features from all genres; “The Lord of the Rings,” “Schindler’s List,” “Band of Brothers,” “Casablanca,” “The Princess Bride,” “Star Wars” and, of course, “Indiana Jones.” In this author’s most humble opinion, these movies are prime examples of talented acting, effective direction or, in some cases, a “feel-good movie of the year” that is just likable and fun. Movies can be a great form of entertainment. However, reading has several advantages, including some that are particularly poignant given the current economic state in our country.

Primarily, there is no cord. Batteries not required. The novel is the original truly wireless form of entertainment. Feel free to sit under a shady tree, or wherever you find comfort, and read to your heart’s content. There is no need to wander aimlessly through buildings in search of a good Wi-Fi connection or free Internet port, nor is there a monthly bill due. Consider this perspective: a new paperback edition of Dan Brown’s “Angels & Demons” costs $8.99 from Barnes and Noble and you are ready to read. The movie “Angels & Demons” on DVD sells for $23.30 at the same vendor. But, in order to partake of your new Tom Hanks adventure, you will need to acquire at the very least a television and a DVD player.

One, however, may argue that movies do not need to be purchased to enjoy them as a result of innovative business endeavors such as Netflix: unlimited movies for $16.99/month. Consider your local library: unlimited books, free. And, if you absolutely must have your electronics fix every day, consider the free service Listen Alaska (listenalaska.lib.overdrive.com) — hundreds of digital audio books ready to download to your computer at no charge.

Advancement in technology has afforded our culture incredible communication and entertainment opportunities, but it is regrettable that attention may be detracted from books. It seems that often the only young people in libraries are those who go to use the free Internet. There are young people who have never read a book independently outside of school curriculum. This is a travesty. They are missing an opportunity to form a relationship over time with something that has nothing to do with their own reality. How could one not afford to do that?

Claudia Berkley teaches at Glacier View School.