This module is focused on writing technologies, the history of the book, and the future of books and narrative. You will learn about key concepts related to theories and practices of literacies, reading, and information use. You will also be able to define and critically analyze the role of books as objects of text and how the history of the book as a material object and as an agent of intellectual and social change helps us understand contemporary online and multimodal narratives.
You will read articles by Hastreiter, Delemos and Piazza that discuss the future of books and how technology is impacting them.
Activities in this module include
Watch video clip
Digital Literacy Snapshot mini assignment
eClass live Check in
Digital Literacy Snapshot
Description / Instructions:
Assess your digital literacy experiences focusing on how you engage with web communities and online platforms.
Reflect briefly on how these experiences have shaped your digital identity.
Task:
Reflective Narrative: Record a short narrative (no more than 7 minutes) about your digital literacy journey. Include key platforms (like Hotmail, E-Bay, ICQ, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, etc.) that have been part of your journey and how they've influenced you.
Multimodality: Ensure your video has some voice (you speaking), music or sound effects, images etc…that represent your digital journey.
Post Creation: Publish your video and embed it on the class blog. Title your post "Digital Literacy Snapshot" and tag it with your name. NOTE: you can use any video platform to host your video or simply upload it to the blog.
Reflection: On the blog post, include a brief reflection (1 paragraph) on creating your video of your digital literacy journey.
- Hastreiter, N. (2017). What’s the Future of Books, The Future of Everything. Retrieved from: http://www.futureofeverything.io/2017/04/17/future-books/
- Delemos, R. S. (2021, September 13). TikTok for Viral Book Marketing: Self-published authors are increasingly flocking to the platform to market their books. Publishers Weekly, 268(37), 69.
- Gunter, D. (2023). AI, the new frontier - opportunities and challenges: Artificial intelligence is the future for all industries - especially scholarly publishing. Research Information, 4–6. https://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lls&AN=172906330&site=eds-live&scope=site
This week’s readings focused on the power of modern social media apps in promoting businesses and products, specifically in the publishing industry. They held a noticeably more critical stance than module one’s readings, written with a tone of advice and even warning towards business owners and authors. Together, the readings emphasize the importance of learning to utilize new social media technologies and AI in their marketing strategies.
ReplyDeleteOur first article this week was a collection of quotes from various leaders in the publishing industry, from a discussion lead by Nick Hastreiter titled, “What’s the Future of Books?” from 2017. I think the date this discussion took place is especially important to note because social media has changed significantly in the past seven years— as mentioned in our second reading, social media app ‘TikTok’ was “[launched] internationally in 2017” (Delemos, 1) and has since “become one of the fastest-growing social media platforms worldwide” (Delemos, 1). I think it is interesting and important to discuss Hastreiter’s interviews alongside Raquel Shante Delemos’ “TikTok for Viral Book Marketing: Self-Published authors are increasingly flocking to the platform to market their books” because the two articles corroborate each other’s perspectives. Many of the professionals quoted in Harstreiter’s article have foreseen the way that physical books, while still important, have shifted from an item that all households have on their shelves, to more of a collectible— especially amongst younger demographics.
On apps like TikTok and Instagram, I would state that the most common form of posts created about books are ‘showing off’ a beautiful, and curated selection of books. While “Instagram’s book-related content tends to feature photos of enticing book stacks, book shelves and aesthetically pleasing home libraries” (Delemos, 2), I’d say that even the short form videos which describe a book’s plot on TikTok, or even the longer critiques given on YouTube are less about the books themselves, and serve a purpose similar to most posts on social media. That is, flashing an individual’s ‘status’ to a wider audience. It is clear to see that physical books have turned into a commodity rather than a staple when even looking at the price of books. In the past decade, I have personally witnessed physical books soar in price— where soft covers used to range from $10-15, they are now selling for around $20. I was shocked when I went into my local Chapters at Christmas to find that a recently published hardcover book was selling for $42. The price of a single book is creeping closer and closer to the cost of other collectible items such as trading cards and figurines. While I do appreciate the way literature has become more accessible, and more environmentally friendly, I also can’t help but note the underlying dangers in commodifying an important staple of knowledge amongst society.
DeleteAs an artist, I have noted the ways in which the physical aesthetic of books have become, in some cases, more important than the content of the books themselves. Our third reading touches upon some of the ways in which aesthetics, marketing and societal beauty standards influence the extent to which books— items which perhaps used to serve more practical purposes of ‘teaching’ their consumers— gain prominence in society. When promoting books on social media, aesthetics are everything. However, aesthetics are ambiguous and change depending on cultures, demographics, and contexts. Oftentimes, the things that have gained popularity on the basis of aesthetics (for example, the new “Stanley Cup” craze) often have major consequences that impact some if the most vulnerable groups in our communities (the overproduction of these ‘reusable’ cups has steep environmental impacts). Similarly, if the prettiest books are the ones that do the best, then those same problematic beauty standards dictate whose words, and which ideologies, are popularized. Additionally, algorithms and AI are built upon existing information— information which has been created by humans, with their own biases and assumptions. “The risks of incomplete or biased AI are many” (Gunter, 3), and I can’t help but wonder what risks are being taken by allowing such algorithms to dictate the success of such important tokens of knowledge, information, and culture. If some of history’s most influential books were published today, would they be at the top of our ‘For You page’?
Sources
Gunter, D. (2023). AI, the new frontier - opportunities and challenges: Artificial intelligence is the future for all industries - especially scholarly publishing. Research Information, 4–6.
Delemos, R. S. (2021, September 13). TikTok for Viral Book Marketing: Self-published authors are increasingly flocking to the platform to market their books. Publishers Weekly, 268(37), 69.
Hastreiter, N. (2017). "What's the Future of Books,”The Future of Everything. Retrieved from: http://www.futureofeverything.io/2017/04/17/future-books/
We often think of technology as a forward-moving driving force that replaces the old with the new, leaving many feeling nostalgic for the good old-fashioned ways of doing things (such as reading physical books rather than eBooks). After going through the readings, however, I invite us to think of technology as a positive evolutionary force that morphs the intrinsic value we get from books (i.e. their stories) rather than threatening their existence.
ReplyDeleteIf we think of the classic “TV is dead” claim, a fair argument can be made that streaming services and even TikTok are eating a significant part of its pie. But why not think back to how TV could’ve been seen as a threat to books when it was first invented? And why not go back even further to the pre-book era of hieroglyphics and engraved clay tablets? It is only then that we can recognize the timeless human need for telling stories, and that all mediums that followed and that continue to emerge are vessels that carry them. In today’s world, we have the technological and creative means to bring these stories to life in various ways, such as through 360-degree storytelling; as mentioned in the “What’s the Future of Books?” article. This interactive narrative approach is already being implemented in the educational field to engage students, such as by VR & AR company “The Glimpse Group”.
This idea of friendly tech-driven multimodality is expressed by one of the article’s interviewees, “The real opportunity is in seamless multi-platform delivery, meaning once you purchase a title, you can read the physical book in bed, continue reading on your phone when you’re sitting in a waiting room, and then listen to the content in your car while driving home. That, to me, is the future.”
She’s speaking of a world characterized by transliteracy, which requires storytellers to stay up to date on the most relevant methods and touchpoints to communicate their narratives. Now that authors can be their own marketers, they have the opportunity to connect and engage with digital consumers on a human level, a stark shift to the traditional process of going through publishing houses described in the article. This is captured in the “TikTok for Viral Book Marketing” reading as it discusses how independent authors now have TikTok as a tool to reach their niche audiences through #booktok.
With AI showing many practical applications across industries (as described in the third reading), it becomes essential that storytellers keep an eye out for new ways to bring their narratives to life.
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The Glimpse Group (Education): https://www.theglimpsegroup.com/industry-solutions/k12-education
I found this week’s readings enjoyable and insightful as an avid book lover. The article on AI emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across various sectors, including scholarly publishing and I agree that its application in the publishing industry could revolutionize how we access, interact with, and consume literary content (Gunter, 2023). The idea of personalizing reading experiences and recommending books based on algorithms appeals to me to an extent. However, I also worry about how this can potentially streamline what I have access to, hindering me from discovering new authors who are not necessarily within my usual preferences but whom I might enjoy.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the concept of TikTok for viral book marketing illustrates a shift in how books are marketed and consumed in the digital age. TikTok's platform has become a really powerful tool for book promotion (Delemos, 2021). I have been influenced by BookTok several times as well, with my latest book pickup being "The Little Life." And I think this underscores the importance of adaptability and innovation in book marketing strategies, as traditional methods may not suffice in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. I can also relate to Gabby's comment about how this trend might have influenced the price of hardcover books in recent times.
The readings suggest a future where the essence of reading and literature adapts to and coexists with cutting-edge technology and innovative marketing approaches where books are more accessible and engaging which is already happening. Combining these insights, the future of books seems to be a blend of tradition and innovation. While digital and audio formats will continue to grow, the essence of reading such as the immersive experience, the narrative journey, and the emotional connection remains constant. The challenge I think will lie in ensuring that the core values of literature are preserved amidst technological advancements and changing consumer habits. The future of books is not and shouldn’t just be about the format but about maintaining the depth, richness, and diversity of literary content that has been the cornerstone of human culture for centuries.
A question that kept lingering in my mind while doing my readings was: How will the increasing integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and augmented/virtual reality in the publishing industry affect the fundamental experience of reading? Basically, how can a balance be maintained between embracing technological advancements and maintaining the value of traditional reading experiences?
References
Gunter, D. (2023). AI, the new frontier - opportunities and challenges: Artificial intelligence is the future for all industries - especially scholarly publishing. Research Information, 4–6.
Delemos, R. S. (2021, September 13). TikTok for Viral Book Marketing: Self-published authors are increasingly flocking to the platform to market their books. Publishers Weekly, 268(37), 69.
Hastreiter, N. (2017). "What's the Future of Books,”The Future of Everything. Retrieved from: http://www.futureofeverything.io/2017/04/17/future-books/
Hi Peace,
DeleteReading about how TikTok has influenced you to buy a book, and your concern for preserving the quality of books' content got me thinking about something: imagine that a future trend emerges where influencers (TikTok or otherwise) view books as an "easy" revenue stream, and they write books with the mindset that their fame will be enough leverage to make their books sellable.
I wonder if this would lead to a decline in book quality, or the emergence of a system of checks and balances where we rely even more heavily on ordinary people to give us real reviews before buying these influencer books on a whim.
For this module, I wish to write a response on the reading What is the Future of Books by Nick Hastreiter. I found this to be an interesting read that offered perspectives from different experts on the future of books and publishing. A key takeaway is that while digital formats like e-books and audiobooks are growing in popularity, physical books still have an important place, especially for avid readers and book lovers. I think the prediction that physical books will become more of a luxury item is a possibility. As Laura Nevanlinna pointed out, fancy bind-ups and visually striking books may retain more value as collectors' items. At the same time, the convenience and portability of e-books mean digital reading will likely continue dominating for mainstream titles.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, the rise of hybrid publishing models is another important trend to watch. As Adam Witty pointed out, this allows business experts to leverage books for marketing while avoiding the rigamarole of traditional or self-publishing. However, the quality control on these hybrid publishers will be important mainly because subpar books could dilute an author's brand. One aspect I wish was covered more is the environmental impact of different formats. With sustainability becoming increasingly important, it would be interesting to compare the carbon footprint of print books versus digital from production to distribution. This could be a factor influencing consumer choices in the future.
Based on the Module 2 sources, the future of books and their marketing landscapes is evidently evolving alongside technological advancements. Hastreiter (2017) speculates about the changing nature of books, hinting at innovations that could alter how readers interact with text, such as digital formats that incorporate interactive elements or augmented reality. This concept of "future books" not only challenges traditional publishing but also opens up myriad possibilities for engaging readers in new and immersive ways.
ReplyDeleteDelemos (2021) focuses on the practical aspects of current trends in the book industry, particularly the rise of TikTok as a powerful marketing tool for self-published authors. This phenomenon is part of a larger shift towards utilizing social media platforms for direct marketing and audience building. TikTok, with its vast, diverse user base and algorithm that favors engaging content, provides a unique opportunity for authors to create viral content that can significantly boost their visibility and sales.
Gunter (2023) extends the discussion to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in publishing. AI's role is seen not just as a tool for marketing, but as a fundamental driver that could reshape all aspects of the industry, from content creation to distribution, and even reader engagement. The article highlights both the opportunities, such as personalized reading experiences and efficient content management, and the challenges, such as ethical considerations and the potential displacement of traditional roles.
Together, these readings suggest a dynamic future for the book industry where technology plays a central role in shaping how books are created, marketed, and consumed. The integration of AI and social media is particularly notable, as it represents a shift towards more interactive, personalized, and directly marketed literary experiences.