Dynamic Discourse

Modern technology allows people in this current era to absorb media at a pace that would never have been possible in the past. While this rapid rate of consumption could theoretically lead to a vastly more educated populace, the contrary is more often the case. Due to the overwhelming exposure the average person has to a myriad of different media, people will often take shortcuts to maintain their grasp on the information that they believe is the most relevant. These constant shortcuts compound into a perpetually larger lack of understanding for the intricate and often subtle meanings behind the most impactful works of the past and present alike. Many facets of film and music have been overlooked due to current circumstances; however, literature has undoubtedly received the greatest degree of neglect. The deterioration of the average adolescent’s reading and interpretive capabilities can be seen plain as day in the graphical representations below which were compiled by the International Literacy Association.

The purpose of this webpage is to invite any willing participants to engage in a test of reading and analytical prowess. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to charge forward unflinching into the tempest of tales below and to then provide a rational and intellectually stimulating comparison between different stories (preferably from different genres) in a corresponding discussion thread.

Read away comrades, and when you feel ready, enter the thread here to prove your intellectual mettle. Godspeed!

Richard Olsen takes full responsibility for the information posted. The information on this page represents that of Richard Olsen and not that of California State University, Sacramento.