An obituary on the bookshelf

The knowledge society dreams of empty rooms with highspeed connections, writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung in an obituary on the bookshelf: "The bookshelf is dying out, even before e-books - which no longer need bookshelves, but only the Internet's huge storage capacity - have started to play a massive role in our lives. The medium 'bookshelf' - most often made of wood - is disappearing into thin air - long before its raison d'être, the hitherto paper (and consequently also made of wood) medium the 'book' has ceased to exist. ... It must not be forgotten, however, that in our socio-cultural dwelling patterns the bookshelf never simply organised edification. It has always had a hand in documenting it as well, in showcasing it. ... The knowledge and information society needs a fibre optic cable, not a bookshelf. The 'smart houses' which keep a close eye on the best before dates of yoghurt in the fridge likewise have no need for the bookshelf because they revolve primarily around knowledge, but not around understanding."

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Public Culture, » Online media, » Global
All available articles from » Gerhard Matzig

» To the complete press review of Friday, June 5, 2009