Journal Response 2

Networks, writing, and material are all connected and co-dependent on each other to thrive. Networks are essential to maintaining most forms of writing, as the writer needs a means in which they can distribute their work whether is be through word of mouth or their own writing just appearing in different sources in different areas. The author writes a piece and through networks it is dispersed to those who need the information or seek it, the two work together in sync to convey messages to audiences. The network ultimately requires the writing in order to expand itself, and grow. In a networks the material is going to to pertain to those within the network, a political campaign group is going to focus on their candidate’s actions and things pertaining to them while avoiding writing that does not mention them.  Over the course of history writing and networks have changed drastically due to advancements, what started as oral circulation changed to print and has evolved to digital media. In “Becoming Postal” Henkin states, “The history of communications has been understood as a series of disruptive, technology-driven increases in the speed at which people can transmit information” (1). Oral history would stay within a small network because there would a vast area the writing would need to travel, similar to how the number of letters increased when faster and cheaper means to transport the material became present. The history of the postal service is a great example to showcase networks, material, and writing. The price of postage decreased drastically opening the network for communication to those not in the upper class, making writing a less formal act as it could now focus on new material instead of just important facts as it could be done more often. “Mail was redefined as a popular network that embraced in principle anyone who could be expected to visit a post office” (22). The postal service became “the engine of revolutionary changes in everyday experience” (22) as post was now cheaply moved across the country expanding the amount of people able to communicate, opening up new topics, which expanded immensely as digital technology advanced.