Journal 2 Samantha Garcia

Although distinct, networks, writing and materiality all interrelate and are dependent of each other. Writing’s main purpose is to communicate. Whether the writer wants to send a message to the world, send a message to a friend, or send a message kept in a journal that can only be seen by themselves. Whether big or small, broad or more direct, these writings are meant to reach networks. Materiality is the quality or character of being material, it is what is relevant and significant. In order for writing to even carry its  purpose, it must have a material, or form in which it can connect to different networks. It is important when considering what form or material of writing is best suitable, what network you are trying to reach and what kind of message you are trying to send out. These messages are released internally from the brain and onto external forms of material like paper, computers, ipads, phones, letters, magazines, newspapers, blogs, television; the list goes on and on. Virtual or Physical, writings must have some sort of form of transportation that lead into a network of people. In   “The Postal Age,” Henkin not only  emphasizes the importance of speed in which people can transport information from long distances, but highlights the access and use of new media reflected by different parties in historical context. When mail first came to be,personal letters were a luxury and were only accessible to those whom were wealthy and could afford it.Those that were poor had to find different forms to communicate. The expense of this materiality, resulted in its writings to only reach a particular network. In Bazerman’s article, he gives an example on how the materiality of writing affects its network as well. For example, before the American Revolution, letters were sent with the intention of angering the people and provoking them to rebel against Great Britain. The way you write, whether appealing to ethos, pathos or logos and it’s materiality determines the network the same way the network reacts, feels, thinks determines which materiality  the writer uses and the way in which the writer decides to approach their writing.