A Review of Responses to the National Endowment for the Arts Report, “R

During the past twenty years there has been much debate oer topics regarding literacy and literature in America. In June 2004, based on their comparison of literary instruction surveys from 1982, 1992, and 2002, the National Endowment for the Arts released the following statement.The accelerating declines in literary reading among all demographic groups of American adults indicate an imminent heathenish crisis. The trends among younger adults warrant special concern, suggesting that unless some effective solution is open literary culture, and literacy in general, give continue to worsen. Indeed, at the current enjoin of loss, literary reading as a leisure activity will virtually disappear in half a century. (NEA, construe at bump)In recent years, access to the Internet has become on hand(predicate) to Americans of all ages and cultural backgrounds. some(prenominal) authority figures in academia witness this as a threat to the perpetuation of printed literature. Other au thorities stead the Internet as an additional medium for advancing literacy. Another trouble authorities face is one of definition. Some authorities want a broader definition of what constitutes literature while others insist on a specimen of quality for literary works. What follows are some thoughts and opinions on these related topics and others.Some critics feel the NEA surveys narrow definition of literary reading is the NEAs feeble attempt to designate genres of literary importance. The Reading at Risk study defines literary readers as those who read short stories, poetry, and plays in their leisure time, excluding any reading done for work or direct or on the Internet (NEA, Reading at Risk). Stuart Moulthrop, author of the online dialogue, New Literacies ... ...orum Blog. 29 Sept. 2004. .Rachel. More on Reading at Risk. Online Posting. 23 August 2004. Banana Republican. 19 Sept. 2004 .Schwartz, Nomi. NEAs Reading at Risk Elicits Strong, Varied Responses. American Books ellers Association Online. 15 July 2004. 19 Sept. 2004. .Solomon, Andrew. Reading at Risk Lack of Interest in Literature is a Crisis. Commentary Columbia Daily Tribune. 8 Aug. 2004. 19 Sept. 2004. .Wood, Peter. Literature at Risk The State of Our Reading Habits. National Review Online. 19 July 2004. 19 Sept. 2004 .