Older books are regarded with an admittedly heavier aura; names like Charles Dickens and Jane Austen usually tend to invoke an image of an older, more sophisticated time, with books tackling important subjects and making social commentaries about issues plaguing their countries. Classics are still studied carefully, the eloquence and intricacy in their writing making many students view them to be of a higher standard than books prevalent today. Now, mainstream books are often popularized based on entertainment value, but it leads to speculation on whether or not books today hold the same importance and meaning as they used to.
“[Books today] are more laid back and less in-depth in meaning compared to classics,” senior Sanya Gupta opinionated, “I do believe older books are more meaningful, but every book still carries a message.”
A potential reason why older books are viewed to be more meaningful is due to the decreasing relevance of books in general. As society progresses and the value of short-term entertainment increases exponentially, other forms of media are better suited to keeping up with the struggling attention spans of people today. Books require thought, time and imagination. For many, it is admittedly much more difficult to stay invested in a book as compared to staying loyal to a visually captivating movie that was specifically tailored to keep their attention. As such, easy-to-read books that focus on entertainment tend to blow up in popularity; in order to keep up with changing times, books now are made with the knowledge that they have to compete with enticing video games and tempting television to capture and maintain a consumer’s attention.
“Younger generations’ attention spans are decreasing; [it’s harder to] read a book and stay committed to it,” Gupta added.
On the contrary, some students believe that many books today carry just as much meaning as dated classics, in that they handle important tasks like speaking on societal issues, allowing readers something to relate to and overall spreading awareness about topics many readers may have been completely unaware of; however, with only a select few books gaining immense popularity on social media, it often leaves many others in the dust, leaving most readers completely unaware of hidden literary gems.
“Not if you’re reading the right books,” junior Meilun Li argued, discussing whether or not contemporary books lacked meaning.
Although traditional books are admittedly declining in popularity, and books of the past may still be regarded as higher quality than those today, it is still important to note that media adapts with convenience. Previously, writing was the most convenient means of portraying information, but today, visual media clearly takes prominence in a world centered around social media and constant connection. Even then, writing remains as the barebones of most other mediums: movies are made from a script, and music from poetry. Books may, arguably, be considered less meaningful than they used to be, but writing in and of itself remains as the staple of other informational media.
