Essay One: The Importance of Literature in Understanding
Digital Culture
Our students are best prepared for understanding the digital
world around them by a traditional study of great literature. As students study
quality literature, they learn how to think critically and analyze difficult
texts. Their abilities to speak, write, and communicate in general are
increased. These skills and others help our students to be better equipped to
understand the digital world around them. However, today I will focus specifically
on how studying Moby Dick by Herman Melville helps our students to
understand the importance of collaboration in a digital age.
In Moby Dick, it is essential for the entire crew to
work together in order to successfully hunt whales. Paul Billis, in a recent blog post, discussed a similar concept as he detailed the importance of each
individual character in the text. Billis argues that Melville “craft[s] each of
these characters expertly to allow each of them their own voice and
personality.” Just as the Pequod cannot function without each of its crewmen
performing his assigned functions, digital culture cannot function at its
fullest potential without the countless men and women who actively consume and
create content in a digital world.
The importance of each individual in the crew is highlighted
by Starbuck’s futile attempt to convince Ahab to stop his fanatical hunt for
Moby Dick. He exclaims, “O, my Captain!...Away with me! Let us fly these deadly
waters!” (Melville 604). However, Ahab decides to ignore Starbuck’s counsel and
continue on his hunt for the white whale, eventually leading to his death as
well as the deaths of every crew member except for Ishmael. Had Ahab listened
to Starbuck, the story would have had a different ending entirely. However,
because Ahab ignored those around him, his quest failed and let to devastation
and ruin.
As students contemplate the results of Ahab’s dismissal of
Starbuck’s counsel, they learn about the importance of collaboration. When all
of the crew members work together as equals, they catch whales and all is well.
However, when Ahab reigns as the dictator of the ship, discounting advice from
his first mate, tragedy strikes. While the results of not collaborating with
others may not be as dramatic, the results are similar in that the end result
is not as good as it could have otherwise been. Collaboration allows others to
help us to see flaws in our work that we cannot always find on our own. As
students learn about Ahab and his mad quest, they also learn about the benefits
of collaboration.
This one specific example from Moby Dick shows both
the benefits of collaboration and the consequences for failing to do so, which
can help students to learn about this important aspect of digital culture. Classic works of literature help students to understand both collaboration and other important principles of digital culture as students think critically about such texts.
Works Cited:
Billis, Paul. "Moby Dick, Democracy, participatory Culture, and Games." Web. 18 December 2013.
Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. New York: Library of America Paperback Classics, 1983. Print.
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