Blogging Into the Future

Andrew Sullivan's Why I Blog was one of the few blogs I have ever read. I found a lot of truth in his insight on blogging's developing identity. I always thought of blogs as no more than personal rants not much different than a diary, only one which you share with others. Sullivan points out that while blogs do have those qualities, they are becoming a bigger and bigger part of the way people communicate, recieve information, and have become a significant voice in the literary world. As he talked about the different qualities and opportunities that make blogging such a revolutionary literary form, (instant publication, able to be accessed by anyone with internet connection, instant feedback commentary, hyperlinks), I began to see blogs as an art of the future. Technological advances such as the internet have spawned something unique where writers and readers can connect instantly and read and comment on eachothers works without having to go through the hangups of editing and publishing. Youtube comes to mind as another recent media revolution, particularly the way viewers feed of eachothers comments and begin discussing among themselves, in the same way blog commenters interact. As we move further and further toward a digital age I believe blogging will become even more prominent as a form of communication. As people become more and more conneceted through internet and cell phones I think we are leaning towards quicker, smaller, less revised communication forms like blogging, commentng, texting. Wether this is a good or a bad thing for the literary world remains to be see, but it definately adds a new element to the mix. The thing that I feel blogging is most imortant for is giving a medium for readers and writers and critiques to be on the same playing field, (everyone can read and comment on blogs), which gives a lot more power to the unprofessional writer and the casual readers.