Knotts, Barbara

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38MANUSCRIPTSEffects of Modern InventionI.:Barbara KnottsDespite the obvious advantages to civilization brought aboutby such innovations as the radio, improved printing andtransportation methods, and the resultant wieler dissem-ination of newspapers, these inventions have brought abouta distinct decline in the subtlety and eloquence of language inthe form of the written word. This is most vividly true inthe field of political and social criticism. True, modern Amer-ican literature has turned out such creditable factual exposesas Gunther's Inside U. S. A., and such forceful criticilsmsas Gentleman's Agreement and Knock On Any Door, butthese books are blunt, candid. In them no attemptis made at satirical fantasy or shaded implication. Thesebooks need not be entertaining; their readers, since they mostlikely have been informed of the general situation by radio ornewspaper, expect only the impressive details.Social evils have not disappeared, but a new Dickens hasnot appeared. Government is still corrupt, but another Swifthas not yet arisen to write of the travels of a modern Gulliver.And though we have no social problem today to equal thatof slavery, many other issues exist worthy of the poeticalefforts of a new Whittier. But the type of literature which thesemen wrote is no longer the only means by which the people'ssocial and political consciousness may be restored; therefore,it need not be so painstaking nor so masterful in its use of lang-uage. This literature is, in effect, actually unnecessary becausemuch that it says is more easily conveyed to a wider audienceby radio broadcasts or by terse newspaper articles. Thus theradio and the wider-reaching newspapers, although they un-doubtedly effect the desired reform more quickly, have a de-cidedly discouraging effect on reform literature and, conse-quently, on the eloquent employment of language.§ § § §MetropolisMartha PearsonIhave visited New York City three times. Each visit wasunder completely different circumstances, and it would bedifficult to determine which visit I enjoyed most. However,all things considered, I believe I should have to rate my. firsttrip as being far more exciting than the others, and an experIence

Effects of Modern Invention

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Effects of Modern Invention

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