fragments, 11/20/03

[novapsyche]

9:05 p.m.

Can you imagine how magical writing must have seemed 5,000 years ago? Someone could be passed a sheet of papyrus and instantly know what someone else means, but for the average looker-on the papyrus would have interesting symbols that meant nothing, had no reference. Of course reading created its own elite class! Reading is the magic of the eye.

Comments

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

I have a book on the history of reading, if you ever want to borrow it.

[empiress.livejournal.com]

Mmmm....that is such a wonder-filled thought.

[ex-boots717.livejournal.com]

there's a perfect scene in the perfect movie for this. you should really rent it. i think you'll love it and access revelations from it as well. it's called "Black Robe."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101465/

yes, there is a scene that illustrates exactly what you are writing about. but beyond that, it's a really intense glimpse into the first encounters of white and native in America. it takes place in the St. Lawrence area.. they're french, in quebec presumably. it's an intense movie. i loved it.

Letters & Numbers

[freeandclear.livejournal.com]

As you may know, just a few thousand years ago, the elite did not allow the non-elite to learn or to use letters and numbers, on pain of death. These symbols were regarded as powerful magic, which they are. Of course the non-elite had oral traditions and fundamental finger-counting. Only the elite could bind information in time and calculate abstractly.

Quite a wonder to contemplate!