Does Writing Have A Future? - Vilem Flusser 1987

Does Writing Have A Future? - Vilem Flusser 1987

20th century speculation on future technology revolutionizing writing

These images are of Vilem Flusser’s English edition of Does Writing Have a Future? Flusser’s book raises many different implications about this post-books transformation that Drucker’s “The Virtual Codex fromFrom Page Space to E-Space” also raises. In Drucker’s conclusion they raise that “Books of the future depend very much on how we meet the challenge to understand what a book has been.” and finishes up by stating that the digital or future of books will be reformatted. Drucker’s speculation in 2003 about reformatting seems to be occurring as digital e-readers steadily assert their individuality. Greater complexity has led to greater possibilities to functionally distinguish digital books from bound pages, which also hazards progressive acclimation. In 2020 digital books have their benefits but they've yet to be unanimously perfected despite continued innovation.

Vilem Flusser’s book is a great contrast to Drucker’s article because Flusser more radically takes the position that writing will, and needs, to change and evolve from its current capacities which Flusser considers primitive. Flusser’s mode of conflict regarding writing and its relationship to society promotes critical discussion about the structural consequences of writing which remains relevant while digital books continue to optimize rather than entirely transform.

Vilem Flusser

Mike Schmitt

Digital image