Ahhh...bonnie Scotland!
Culture of Books and Reading appealed to me largely because of my interest in books and literature, but also because of the opportunity it provided for me to break out of the science-filled world I had veritably lived in since beginning at UC. One of the worst traps a pre-medical student can fall into is focusing exclusively on science courses; this path limits the expansion and development of necessary skills outside of the realm of science. The lecture part of this seminar focused on evaluating the effects of literature across cultures and ideologies and in light of the expanding technological age. We especially discussed censorship (especially of social media by governments), the effects of literature in developing countries, ideas relating to speech rights, and how the viewpoint on literature (and what is and isn’t literature) has changed constantly throughout history. This gave us a greater appreciation of just how present literature is in our lives, and just how much we might take it for granted.
The other key component of the seminar was the study tour to Edinburgh, Scotland. While we indulged in a few attractions geared toward tourists, we also explored historical aspects of the city and surrounding areas. While there, we surveyed individuals to gain a sense of reading practices across nationalities and economic spreads, and worked together to write a story based on some of the areas we explored.
Going forward, I feel better equipped to evaluate the significance of literature and understand, in particular, how it has changed in a world dominated largely by technological advancements. I also have a greater grasp and appreciation of the advancement of literature and its physical manifestations (scrolls, books, ebooks, etc.) throughout history and the connections felt to each. As an avid reader myself, I see the benefits and the extreme drawbacks of some physical forms of literature, and a war continues between the part of me that wishes to hold onto the “old way” and the part that wishes to embrace the “new way.” I know that I will continue to follow such advancements closely to bring this to a resolution.
The other key component of the seminar was the study tour to Edinburgh, Scotland. While we indulged in a few attractions geared toward tourists, we also explored historical aspects of the city and surrounding areas. While there, we surveyed individuals to gain a sense of reading practices across nationalities and economic spreads, and worked together to write a story based on some of the areas we explored.
Going forward, I feel better equipped to evaluate the significance of literature and understand, in particular, how it has changed in a world dominated largely by technological advancements. I also have a greater grasp and appreciation of the advancement of literature and its physical manifestations (scrolls, books, ebooks, etc.) throughout history and the connections felt to each. As an avid reader myself, I see the benefits and the extreme drawbacks of some physical forms of literature, and a war continues between the part of me that wishes to hold onto the “old way” and the part that wishes to embrace the “new way.” I know that I will continue to follow such advancements closely to bring this to a resolution.