We aren't so sure about this. How book centered was the previous "culture" ? Whose culture are we talking about? Is there a single culture -- surely not? Wasn't book culture always predominantly middle class.
Also, what kind of books are we talking about. This kind of discussion so often revolves around a vague idea of literary books or reading.
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This raises the question of what kind of scale we are talking about. Who has access to these new forms of media? Does the web truly offer a broader (or more democratic) constituency than "book culture"? Are books talked about less through other mediums (like blogs) than they were talked about prior to the rise of the blog?
So true. I ask the same questions too. I somehow feel guilty about being a lover of books. Like I'm an elitist (!). Most blog-enthusiasts will tell you that theirs is a more open, democratic culture. I'm not so sure.
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