"Public Lettering".....and "Writing Without Paper" Blog 2/5

Summarize

"Functions of writing always correspond to the types of materials used, therefore those functions correspond to the typologies of the products created" -Armando Petrucci

1. Petrucci begins with noting the difference between writing in ancient Rome and Medieval Europe. In Medieval Europe writing had become absent outdoors as well inside the home. The reduction of literacy is tied to the fact that writing had become commemorative and symbolic as opposed to expressive and transmissive. Because epigraphy was reserved for the use of religious leaders and buildings, the daily use of writing by private citizens in public spaces had virtually disappeared.
2. Petrucci, traces the rise of the monumental inscriptions to the Archbishop Alfano and Robert Guiscard. These individuals developed a new way of using monumental writing to convey political messages, through the use of late antique models. The archbishop at the time had created a new monumental graphic language which incorporated the use of capital letters from Roman epigraphy. At first, Alfano used the script in traditional ways: on stone slabs that were placed inside the church. However, Guiscard wanted the script to be carved and placed on the outside of buildings (duomo). As a symbol of power, Guiscard had his name, title, and legitimacy to claim ruler ship carved on the outside of the Duomo.
3.  During the 12th century in Pisa, monumental writing had broken away from the limits of sacred areas and out into public spaces. This transition, was a result of Italian leader's taking advantage of the functions writing had to offer. The leaders began to use monumental inscriptions to commemorate the constructing of new buildings, immortalize memorable events, and set new laws. By placing these inscriptions outdoors, they became an essential part of the urban space and civic life. 
4. Monumental writing was a vital tool for the assertion and communication of shared public and political values. Petrucci links this to the wave of spontaneous mural art that appeared in Italy in 1968. The art was a form of private expression that represented the artist's discontent or opposition to the political apparatus that dominated that particular space. Like monumental writing, mural art, much like graffiti, is a tool which allows people to communicate and assert their political and social values. 

Writing without Paper

Purpose of the study is to review the tendencies and practices of civil literacy in Athens. In doing so, we make clear of the dimensions of writing and its function in Athens. Usually, Athenian writing survived because they were composed with a sense of value permanence, as the writing was a result of a conscious effort to preserve. However, the writing that Enos studies was used differently: it was composed of pragmatic purposes, they had a specific audience, and were not written with the thought of being an object of study. According to Enos, this type of writing reveals to us about the daily writing practices in Athens. Enos further argues that the fragmentary inscriptions such as list, voter decisions, and street signs, provide an important dimension of civil literacy- "the kind of writing necessary for the daily activity of community life."

Comment

It is interesting to see the transition of writing and its use transition from traditional models to ones that were more liberal and sporadic. In the same sense, it was interesting to see how the use of writing trickled down to the public and made its way into everyday use. In addition, I wasn't aware how much language and writing has been recycled and reused to take new meaning.

Question

If scholars such as Enos were to  study our current culture centuries from now, what could be said about the functions of writing in our culture? What fragmentary inscriptions would they find? Specifically, because we are a society that has become dependent on technology, would there be anything salvageable? Will there be anything of importance?