So this semester I've been enjoying a class in Fluid Physics which emphasizes earth science applications, inevitably some aerodynamics shows up too. In an attempt to get away from the long derivation based lectures the professor shows videos on fluid mechanics that were made back in the late 50s and early 60s. I very much enjoy these videos and can't wait till the next Wednesday class each week; the semester is coming to an end which is unfortunate with respect to this part of my week.
Anyway I get my hands on these videos (VHS) and convert them to a digital format so I may enjoy them for years to come, they really are a treat to watch. And one thing I have come to admire is the immaculate hand writing of the narrator/host, Ascher Shapiro. His penmanship is in start contrast to much of the hand writing I see on a daily basis, especially that of my professors. I got to thinking (during class usually) how things like this change, maybe it's my romanticized view of by gone eras, or maybe it really is that people in general had better writing back then. I can't help to think as I peck away at some letter label buttons how little I actually 'write' and how much life now depends on typing. I always appreciate aesthetics, although some might say I don't, but I find it very rare to see a nice piece of penmanship. I know I am not gifted with this ability, but after the last few weeks I have become more aware of my own writing.
I have always thought my writing was mediocre at best, but it seems to get the point across. And that's the thing, I think people feel like writing is such a slow use of time that they hurry through it with out much concern for it's ability to communicate to other readers. I know I am guilty of this. I would say that 99.99% of my writing is solely for personal use; notes are essential to students, and even then I am always critiqued for how sparse and dense my class notes are. But now after watching the wonderful strokes of Dr. Ascher Shapiro I am very aware of what can be done with practice of the arm-hand-eye coordination, I will strive for this for some time to come.
As I sit here writing this out I can only think of the modern equivalent to what I have identified, the rush to finish typing because it feels like such a drain of time. Again I am guilty as charged. Many times reports and papers have to get done and nearly all of those many times a deadline is breathing down your neck, the result, poorly written text. (See! I'm not sure if I even got the punctuation correct on the end of that last sentence.) Now the thing I fear! People who can't physically write clearly enough so that other people can read it, and people who can't express their ideas to get their point across in the first place. I don't like what popular technology does to some parts of our lives.
Do I make myself clear?
