Recently, my housemates and I established cable television service for our house. The package, purchased from a regional cable provider (I bet you can guess which one), included a FREE (!!!) trial of the company’s “On Demand” service. You may not think so quite yet, but I swear this sort of thing will destroy civilization as we know it.
For those of you unfamiliar with burgeoning television technology, the “On Demand” feature allows you to pull up an extensive and fluctuating list of movies and shows offered by the major “cable” networks (HBO, Starz, etc.) and play them any time you want. Just hit a button. After exercising this frightening power for a few months, I can confidently say that this technology should be kept out of the hands of college students at all costs.
That’s really not such a bad idea, since I’ve witnessed first hand the inexplicable draw a television has over a student with a fifteen-page Shakespeare paper due in four hours. Television has become the procrastination and diversion device of choice for our generation, and it only keeps expanding in scope and accessibility.
The printing industry, on the other hand, still uses the same methods Johann Gutenberg (and those non-Europeans before him) used back in the day: pressing ink to paper. It’s done faster and with better quality, but the logistics remain. In a world of high definition and crystal clear surround sound, it can be easy to forget the timeless pleasure of the written word.
I’m certainly not making a case against moving pictures. Mercy, no! I’ve spent too many days on the couch with my brain switched off to make that attack. But the next time you’re pausing live TV to order movies tickets for Harry Potter and the Merchandising Rights off the internet, stop for a moment to ponder the good old days when storytellers and printed words were the only structured entertainment you were going to get.
And what fantastic entertainment the written word can be. The ultimate in portable entertainment, a book will enhance your day as you pass time between classes, ride the bus, or even read just for the hell of it. I can think of many occasions in which I was immensely satisfied with my decision to sit down with a good book rather than fritter my time away playing video games or seeking gainful employment.
If you rarely or never read for pleasure (and I suspect there are many among us), there is no better time than the present to start. This week’s issue is chock full of literary goodness courtesy of the Generation staff and contributors.
No matter what your taste, I suspect you will find enjoyment within the folded sheet of glossy paper that contains our fine publication. This year’s Fall Fiction should provide ample enjoyment for all; Mark Maglio considers the finer point of the Mexican Sundae, Ryan “Moss” Yaeger paints an unflattering image of the American south, and numerous poets put pen to paper to tantalize your literary appetite.
While you should all be overjoyed by this point already, I should also point out that Fall Fiction means Winter break will soon be upon us. Instead of spending your break in an alcohol induced stupor or visiting family (or even if you do), consider spending some of your free time relaxing with some reading you have been meaning to get to. If you’re anything like me, you have a list of interesting authors and works that have been piling up over the semester; take the opportunity to spread your wings and check out something new. It just might be more rewarding than 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TNT.
So that’s pretty much a wrap for the fall semester. Good luck on your finals, and make sure to have a fun and relaxing time away from your studies. We’ll be here when you get back.
Looking Forward to a Tall Glass of Whiskey and a Taller Stack of Books,
Charles Wiff
Literary Editor
