Baran Ghaforian
Culture and Opinions
Written text is everywhere and it has become commonplace for people to read hundreds of pages at a time. Whether it is for work, school, or pleasure, humans have grown into readers. Humanity has always appreciated the art of the written word; from Shakespeare to Mary Shelley to Margaret Atwood, you can find plenty of people out and about with their noses in a book. While appreciation for leisurely reading has remained constant, the culture surrounding literature has changed greatly in recent years.
At times when literacy rates were low and very few members of society were able to read, reading for leisure was a sign of wealth and class. Though being literate has ceased to be regarded as a miracle, leisurely reading is heavily romanticized. Young children are encouraged to read by an abundance of sources. Parents, teachers, and various forms of media all prompt children to read during their free time. This is to be expected as reading gives children a way to expand their vocabulary and sharpen their comprehension skills while having fun. However, as children grow older and begin high school, many report reading less and less. There is a wave of students claiming the over-analysis of literature in classrooms demotivates reading for pleasure. Others state that as one grows older they simply cannot fit reading into their busy schedules. It is also said that reading takes a great deal of mental effort. Comprehending metaphor-heavy text can be difficult, especially if one is not familiar with analyzing literature. The common consensus among teenagers that have given up on reading, especially those that were avid readers in the past, is that they strive to read more often.
With the birth of social media and the internet, we have seen a surge in popularity of beloved television and film characters like Rory Gilmore, Lisa Simpson and Kat Stratford. Characters like these seemingly exist only to carry around heavy classics and make the occasional intellectual quip. Social media has also taken leisurely reading to a new level. It has given readers an outlet to share the books they’ve read. Bookish communities have developed on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok. Social media’s impact on literature has reached a point where bookstores have set up “BookTok Tables” displaying books commonly read and discussed online. These books tend to be contemporary novels with character-centric plots and exclude the scholarly classics that once dominated the literary world. Bookish social media often promotes buying and owning an inordinate amount of books and reading at an almost superhuman pace. Along with this, book review websites such as Goodreads are encouraging users to set a goal of books to read while displaying the goals of those they follow and the average books read by users worldwide. Articles entitled “88 Short New Books to Help You Crush Your 2022 Reading Challenge” are also presented on the website. Reading has seemingly become about how efficiently one can read rather than a means of personal enjoyment which has fostered increasing competition.
Despite the short attention spans it cultivates, technological advancement has made reading far more accessible than previously. Ebooks provide a wonderful alternative for readers as larger font sizes and dyslexia-friendly fonts are readily available. Audiobooks are another wonderful alternative to traditional print. The ability to consume literature while on a quick walk or during tedious housework has proved revolutionary for many readers. Ebooks and audiobooks are also available in library databases, combatting the consumerism so many readers seem to buy into. The internet has also given way for fans of specific media franchises to come together. Online spaces dedicated to discussing content are aplenty and with these newfound communities comes a plethora of fan-created content. Fanfiction has taken the place of published books in the lives of many. Written primarily by young people, fanfiction typically provides more representative content with Queer fanfiction dominating many fan spaces. Fanfiction is frequently looked down upon by those who don’t partake in reading it, but there is no doubt that fanfiction is making its place known in literature. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood and the After series by Anna Todd are two examples of widely acclaimed, formally published novels that originated on fanfiction websites.
Leisurely reading should ultimately be a good use of your time, you should get something out of reading. Hobbies are meant to be enjoyed and add value to your life, reading should be no different.