Narrative
Reading Events
Introduction
We are all familiar with book shops and libraries as print repositories. The walls of our homes might also be lined with shelves of reading material. Print is often thought of as a resource, and reading as something done by individuals, usually in private. For example, reading often takes place in the bedroom or at a study carroll, but even in public, smartphones and tablets seem to isolate readers from their surroundings--a sort of making private of public situations. Yet, print and reading are often reshaped as public events for commercial and social purposes. To better understand this aspect of what and how people read in Edmonton, this narrative is an ongoing collection of reports describing reading events.
Reports
Conclusion
Literacy is central to identity; reading allows us to confront new ideas and express our current preferences. But worldview and selfhood affect more than the single individual--through reading, we connect with other people, are introduced to communities.
Reading events see readers congregating together, sharing their love for a medium, genre, or franchise. They visit the same locations. They connect with each other, develop lasting relationships, and learn together. By visiting events such as Edmonton Expo, Indie Author Day, and literary festivals, we've been able to observe some of these communities in action. Future avenues for research might include analyzing book clubs, writing groups, or kids' book fairs.
Last Updated: May 1, 2017
We are all familiar with book shops and libraries as print repositories. The walls of our homes might also be...
