Journal 9

Considering both Lessig and Jenkins’ articles, I believe writers in the 21st century have more tools available to them to make their writing process easier and more unique. Some of these tools include all of the new technologies such as the internet, computers, phones, etc. Because a lot of these things were not available to writers in the 18th century, their writing process was definitely different because it was much more difficult to write. Without a lot of today’s technology, important modern ideas and works would not have been created, for the writers would not have felt they had the ability to reach their full potential. In both articles, the authors discuss how collaboration is helpful and more available for writers in this century. Lessig discusses how it is so easy to find other peoples writings nowadays that it should not be frowned upon to use these writings to strengthen one’s own idea. Jenkins inclusion of the The Daily Prophet in the article is a perfect example of how people have been given the ability to become writers through online collaboration.

The emergence of digital technologies and Web 2.0 allow for writers to explore and perfect new ideas that they never would have been able to before. For example, I just wrote a paper for a mythology class last week, comparing a modern movie to an ancient myth. Through the internet, I was able to watch the movie, obtain quotes from the movie, look up the myth, use respected professors speculations about certain things in the myth, and much more. The web opens up so many doors for writers on today’s world, and it really gives everyone a lot of opportunities to become great writers. I feel like I am finding out about new forms of writing all the time, and it’s opening me up to new ways of creating things.