Tuesday 29 March 2016

The Once and Future Book: explaining hypertext to Saint Augustine

Asleep and in a dream I visited Augustine of Hippo. I explained that I was from the future. Being faithful in all things, he believed, asking only that I explain the state of affairs of that time from which I had come. So saying, he sat down on a nearby bench and settled himself comfortably, as if preparing himself for a debate. Considering what might be of consequence to tell such a prolific author, I decided to explain the nature of publishing and reading in the future. So I began to speak.

“We still have books," I said, "but we also read on tablets. And the texts on these tablets are like images lit up from within. They are really fun to use.”

He glared at me from under a skeptical brow for a moment and then said: “There are some things, then, which are to be enjoyed, others which are to be used. Those things which are objects of enjoyment make us happy. Those things which are objects of use assist, and support us in our efforts...being placed among both kinds of objects, if we set ourselves to enjoy those which we ought to use, we are hindered in our course, and sometimes even led away from it; so that, getting entangled in the love of lower gratifications, we lag behind in, or even altogether turn back from, the pursuit of the real and proper objects of enjoyment.” [De Doctrina Christiana, Book 1, chapter 3]

“Yes,” I said, “when reading, I often stop to check my emails or watch YouTube videos, er, moving images of people or cats doing funny things. So, I end up extending my tasks and working the whole day long. It is difficult to separate work time from free time.”

When I was silent for a while, he continued: “But in regard to pictures and statues, and other works of this kind, which are intended as representations of things, nobody mistakes them, especially if they are executed by skilled artists; everyone, as soon as he sees the likenesses, recognizes the things of which they are likenesses. And this whole class are to be reckoned among the superfluous devices of men, unless it is a matter of importance to inquire about the purposes for which they were made and by whose authority. Indeed, the thousands of fables and fictions in whose lies men take delight are human devices and nothing is to be considered more peculiarly man's own invention than anything that is false and lying.” [De Doctrina Christiana, Book 2, chapter 25]

I thought for a moment about how to describe the act of reading on tablets, so as to make it sound useful and also comprehensible to a mind with no understanding of electronic circuits.

“As I said, the texts of books appear like images on the face of the tablet. And some text is highlighted. The highlighted words are signs which we can associate or link with other information in order to follow particular threads of thought...”

Before I could finish speaking, Augustine barked out in sarcasm, saying: “No one uses words except as signs of something else;...Everything, however, is not also a sign.” [De Doctrina Christiana, Book 1, chapter 2]

He looked impatient and so I continued, speaking quickly now: “The highlighted words are signs which serve as indexes pointing elsewhere to other texts. They are like shortcuts to texts from all over the world. It makes for efficient reading, when the reader controls the flow and direction of communication.”

Shaking his head, he explained a little about his theory of signs: “Some signs are natural, others conventional. Natural signs are those which, apart from any intention or desire of using them as signs, do yet lead to knowledge of something else, as, for example, smoke when it indicates fire. For it is not from any intention of making it a sign that it is so, but through attention to experience we come to know that there is fire, even when nothing but smoke can be seen. And the footprint of an animal passing by belongs to this class of signs. And the countenance of an angry or sorrowful man indicates the feeling in his mind, independently of his will: and in the same way every other emotion of the mind is betrayed by the telltale countenance, even though we do nothing with the intention of making it known.” [De Doctrina Christiana, Book 2, chapter 1]

And he looked at me with arms spread wide, shrugging his shoulders, as if to say, ‘What other signs does the average man need in life?’ Then he continued, conceding that such signs as links may well be useful for the studious man:

“For certain institutions of men are in a sort of way representations and likenesses of natural objects. And of these, those which are associated with devils must, as has been said, be utterly rejected and held in detestation. Those, on the other hand, which relate to the mutual intercourse of men, are, so far as they are not matters of luxury and superfluity, to be adopted, especially the forms of the letters which are necessary for reading, and the various languages as far as is required—a matter I have spoken of previously. To this class also belong shorthand characters, those who are acquainted with which are called shorthand writers. All these are useful, and there is nothing unlawful in learning them, nor do they involve us in superstition, or enervate us by luxury, if they only occupy our minds so far as not to stand in the way of more important objects to which they ought to be subservient.” [De Doctrina Christiana, Book 2, chapter 26]

He nodded and closed his eyes. I waited to see what he would say next, but the silence stretched on. Just as I leaned close to see if he was okay, I was startled by the great snore he emitted. This drawn out snarling sound so startled me, that at once I awoke and found myself back at my computer. Such, indeed is the Once and Future Book.

Best, Laura

2 comments:

  1. I love how personal you make the historical run-in. My crypto-medievalism approves of your highly scholastic time-travel. Augustine's unimpressedness and inability to be particularly enraptured by the futuristic subject matter
    was amusing but also highly believable.

    Great stuff!

    -Ben

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