Future of books

This might be a bit old, but I’m slow and just caught it on Blogspotting. Interesting piece that references a May 2006 article from the New York Times about digital publishing, intellectual property and the concept of authors as “performers.”

Amy

Voice of a generation?

Interesting article in the July 10^th edition of Time magazine that asks: “Who’s the voice of this generation? Hemingway’s rose like the sun. Kerouac found his on the road. So why can’t today’s young novelists express the essence of their era?” 

I’m not sure I even identify with the concept: A lone voice or collective of like-minded writers who can provide context for my generation?  Can we start with a definition of “my generation?” I’m 31 and too old to be included in the “Y generation,” and while I technically fit the definition of “X” given my 1975 birth date, not having some sort of connection to cultural icons has never caused me great angst. That may be a simplistic way of looking at gen X, but other than accepting that I’ll never receive a government pension, I’ve not felt overwhelmed by baby boomers.

With an abundance of voices across various mediums, is the solitary act of writing still transformational for an entire generation? Is it the author who has the power to change opinions and prompt discussion or is it the act of marketing the book that’s really the flashpoint?

Amy