In today’s world, it’s too easy to watch rather than read.
Largely due to the advent of the Internet, the modern American has unprecedented access to the world of viewing entertainment. Web-based platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Go have revolutionized the industry, placing a seemingly infinite collection of shows and movies at the fingertips of millions. That’s not to mention the abundance of piracy present on the Internet. Google the title of any movie or TV show along with the word “free,” and you’ll be almost guaranteed to find full content within a few minutes—without paying for anything, of course.
Indeed, the days of waiting for a precise television time slot to watch a specific show or movie are gradually shrinking in the rearview mirror. Armed with the tools of modern technology, anyone can watch almost anything they desire, whenever they desire.
This exponential increase in the accessibility of watchable entertainment does not bode well for the world of literature. Why read a book when you can watch anything in the world for a small fee (or for free if you look hard enough on the interwebs)? Compared to kicking back and “Netflixing,” reading a novel appears to be quite a lot of unnecessary work. Rather than staring vacantly at a screen, reading requires concentration, diligence, and, well, using your brain. I myself must admit that the presence of a nearly unlimited library of TV shows and movies on my laptop has tempted me away from reading on many occasions.
Yet, despite the ongoing revolution in the viewing industry, reading will always be more valuable than watching. To begin with, reading a book is a far more personal experience than watching a film. A movie shows the viewer exactly what is occurring in the story, leaving no room for individual interpretation. In a movie theater, everyone undergoes the same exact viewing experience.
A book, on the other hand, provides the reader with the tools to create their own personalized story. As A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin puts it, “a reader lives a thousand lives before he dies; the man who never reads lives only one.” Reading a novel is a highly individual journey; the reader is able to form their own unique mental version of the events occurring in the book. For instance, while the Harry Potter movies may take everyone on a similar adventure, the books hold different, distinctive meanings for every reader.
Unlike the passive act of watching, the practical value of reading cannot be overstated. As college students are surely aware, reading is an essential component to one's education. No matter what major an undergraduate chooses to pursue, reading is guaranteed to be a heavily featured skill.
Reading is also a crucial prerequisite to writing. Renowned writer Stephen King has stated, “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the tools to write.” In other words, good writing is born from good reading—the two skills are inseparable. Sitting on the couch and viewing a TV show won’t further your education or help you acquire key life skills, but sitting on the couch and reading a book certainly will.
For me, the old adage still holds true, “read the book before you see the movie.” And that's the way it should be.
