The relationship between networks and writing is shown in
Bazerman’s “Letters and the Social Grounding of Differentiated Genres.” In this
chapter, Bazerman makes the argument that letters have essentially always been
a vital material in the circulation of thoughts and ideas throughout a network.
To Bazerman, letters served as lasting evidence of someone’s thoughts. “Even
when letters were no longer recited by the messenger, the goal of projecting
one’s presence through the writing remained.” Letters have the ability to
circulate throughout several different networks without the presence of the
original writer. The presence of the writer doesn’t lessen the value or the
message of the letter; the letter is able to stand on its own.
According to Hekin, content is heavily dependent on the network
it is traveling through. Historically different socioeconomic groups have
relied on different forms of communications. For example, when mail originated,
it was fairly expensive so only the wealthy could afford to communicate through
this network. Less wealthy groups did not have access to this network, and thus
communicated with each other differently. The relationship between materiality and
network is different depending on the group. Different materials and ideas
circulated through different networks.
Morgan Wren
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