I am Writing Blindly

Roger Rosenblatt

I am Writing Blindly

“Communication is the soul and engine of democracy” Soul

 Often refers to our need for the imaginative nourishment that art, music, drama, and literature provide.  May also allude to a moral code; stories such as those taught in children’s literature are often used to teach lessons about values and morals.

Engine

 May refer to the rational aspects of communication; to the brain and its need for stories (communication) in order to grow to its fullest potential of intelligence.

Democracy

 Allows the opportunity for an infinte number of stories to be told and heard.

“It is human nature to tell stories.” or

“We tell stories because we have to.”  Some deep need within us compels us to tell our stories. Ex. Those whose last act was to put pen to paper; “The impulse was in them, like biological fact.”

 Rosenblatt cites Joseph Bruner’s theory: we are born with our stories in us, and we learn to use language so that we can share them.