Digitizing

“Books and Other Fetish Objects,” by James Gleick, discusses the downside of document digitization. Despite the fact digitization makes historical text readily available to thousands of people around the world, when it comes to the subject of digitizing, “some see enrichment, others see impoverishment,” Gleick explains (2). 

Many historians argue that document digitization takes away from the excitement one feels when coming into close reach with an original historical manuscript. According to Tristram Hunt, “‘when everything is downloadable, the history of mystery can be lost’” (2). He concludes this statement by announcing he is not a fan of digitizing and then calls the act of reading physical books and text as sentimental.

Although it is difficult to develop sentimentality through a computer screen, I, for one, am an advocate for the digitization of original documents. Making digital copies of original historical documents provides the world with access to rare materials. As a result of this, people are provided with a slice of history. For instance, people are able to experience the thinking of process of Sir Isaac Newton as he conducts his experiments through his personal journals and data books. Personal journals like Newton’s are the historical rarities people are able to encounter, worldwide, due to the digitalization of written material. Of course one is not able to receive the “contact high” when reading original texts versus reading digitized text (1); nevertheless, the overall knowledge and information absorbed from the digitized documents can benefit mental capacities in which can increase the knowledge of many.

“Can Wikipedia Conquer Expertise?”

“Can Wikipedia Conquer Expertise?” by Stacy Schiff, discusses the success Wikipedia.com, the online encyclopedia has achieved. Wikipedia is an online, interactive encyclopedia in which anyone with Internet access can contribute information. Technically, Wikipedia.com is classified as a non-profit organization in which it supports itself through aids and contributions (paragraph 3). It was created in 2001 and is now the most popular website, receiving “fourteen thousand hits per second” (paragraph 2).

With all of the success Wikipedia.com has achieved, one would think it would be considered a reputable source amongst teachers and researchers, worldwide. But, because everyday people have access to the composing of the Wiki entries, many teachers eradicate Wikipedia.com as a possible research tool for their students. The reason for this could be because of the rudimentary format the entries on Wikipedia.com are written. In the article, Schiff states, “The entries can read as though they had been written by a seventh grader: clarity and concision are lacking; the facts may be sturdy, but the connective tissue is either anemic or absent; and citation is hit or miss” (paragraph 32).

I can attest to Schiff’s previous statement. The majority of Wiki entries tend to lack formal writing principles and style. However, there have been certain topics I have written about and found the information provided in a Wiki entry to more useful to my essay. In fact, even Harvard philosopher Hilary Putnam was amazed to see the details of his Wiki entry. “He was flabbergasted. . . .” Schiff informs readers in the article (paragraph 33).

Act III and IV of Pygmalion

Act IV of Pygmalion, by Bernard Shaw, begins with Eliza, Higgins, and Pickering returning home from Mrs. Higgins’ get together. At the party, which occurs in act III, Eliza goes out of her way to prove to the guests in attendance she has metamorphosed into a woman of sophistication. Though her transformation is not quite complete, Eliza does her best blending in with the aristocrats of the party. In fact, Eliza blends in well enough to dismay Mrs. Eynsford Hill, the mother of Clara and Freddy (introduced in act I). Nevertheless, upon their face-to-face meeting at Mrs. Higgins’ house, Mrs. Eynsford Hill has a difficult time remembering the previous encounter she had with Eliza during Eliza’s days as a poor flower girl working on the streets of London, England. “I feel sure we have met before, Miss Doolittle. I remember your eyes,” Mrs. Eynsford Hill expresses to Eliza (59).

I was surprised, nonetheless, when reading about the outcome of act IV of Pygmalion. It is typical for the audience to witness happy endings for the character that undergoes a positive change. Because Higgins and Pickering have already transformed Eliza into a refined young lady and taught her to communicate using proper English by act IV, I was expecting the rest of the story to continue to flourish for Eliza. Contrary to my previous beliefs, the story experiences a slight relapse when Eliza is a silent observer to Higgins and Pickering’s conversation, as they discuss how they could have peaceful rests knowing they have achieved “a great success: an immense success” with Eliza’s makeover (75).