The Remediation of my Writing Spaces November 10, 2009

There are many different mediums, or writing spaces, that people use to create messages for an audience to read. The writing spaces I use most often are my laptop, notebooks, and in a diary. On my laptop, I write emails, papers, and other mostly academic assignments. Occasionally, I’ll write a letter, post a picture, write in an online journal, or create a piece of writing for fun in my free time.  This is unique because I can easily research topics to make my writing more credible. The information I use is very easily accessible.

Second, I use notebooks for planning and memorization usually for school. In a notebook, I take notes for classes and write outlines for academic papers. I use this medium when I cannot get to a computer or do not feel like waiting for one to boot up, wait for a word document to open, etc. This writing is less formal than writing on the computer.

The third type of writing I do is journal writing. In a journal, I can use whatever method I choose to go about to express myself. My journals are often disorganized and do not always stick to just writing. Since I’m the only person reading these entries, I can be as neat or messy as I feel like. What I’m writing doesn’t even have to make sense.

Bolter considers remediation “a process of cultural competition between or among technologies” (23). When a new technology is created, it “claims to do a better job” (Bolter 26). Writing on a computer remediates writing in a journal. The computer allows for faster processing and delivery to the reader rather than having to handwrite everything in a journal. You can find references with less effort to make your writing more credible. Tables, pictures, and text can make writing more organized and clear. Using a computer for writing takes the method of handwriting and makes it easier for both the writer and the reader.

Writing spaces I rely on.. November 10, 2009

Everyday, more and more people discover unique writing spaces in which they record their thoughts and feelings. The writing spaces that I use most frequently are my laptop, notebook/pencil, and my agenda book. I have become reliant on my laptop for writing papers, emails, letters, etc. I find using a computer is the easiest way to record my ideas/ thoughts because I tend to constantly edit my work. The program on my laptop that I use everyday to complete different assignments/papers is Microsoft Word. When I write, this program is the only one I rely on to record my ideas. I have discovered that using a computer is faster and more efficient then writing by pen/pencil. However, I love writing in a notebook with a pen or pencil. A notebook and writing utensil are my favorite tools to use in a classroom to take notes, observations, etc. Sometimes I do find myself writing things down and then typing them up on my computer so they are neater and organized. I feel I attain more information if I actually first write things by hand instead of typing them up. This is the main reason why I never bring my laptop to class to take notes; I prefer to fill a spiral bound notebook with notes and have it accessible to me at all times. My third writing space that I find to be different but an important place where I record things is my agenda book. This space is where I write down everything I have to do for the current month and in the future. I have become so dependent on this small dated journal book that I would be lost without it. I have terrible memory when it comes to due dates, appointments, birthdays, etc. and my agenda helps keeps me organized and up to date. My agenda does not only maintain important information relating to school but also relating to my life. This space is my own personal area that I write reminders and quick notes to myself everyday.

As for remediation, Bolter and Grusin identify remediation as “a newer medium that takes place of an older one, borrowing and reorganizing the characteristics of writing in the old medium and reforming its cultural space” (23). I agree with this statement because over time several technologies have been replaced by newer ones. Relating to remediation, two of my writing spaces that are great examples are my laptop and notebook/pencil. Writing and recording data on a computer has taken over the original use of paper and a pencil. In fact, the computer not only covers the job of paper/pencil but adds more characteristics/features to writing.