Reading at risk

Reading was once upon a time a family occasion for sitting around the table when father would read scripture or a story. Charles Dickens became well known and much loved for writing his stories (who can forget Oliver Twist, made into a movie?) which were published in newspapers.

Later, the radio became a source for storytelling, especially on Saturday nights when the family gathered listening to a “family soapy”; everyone was acquainted with the voices of the characters.

Then television became the medium for family dramas like Dynasty and Dallas, etc., and English series like As Time Goes By.

The BBC aired the Masterpiece Theater series (Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey, etc) as well as mystery/detective (page-turners!) tales.

However, when the iPod was introduced these “human stories” (with a lesson) became irrelevant with modern youth as music replaced books. Songs (lyrics) are today telling “their” story, as they once did at Delphi, Greece.

We are back at Athens 500 BC where storytelling started with dramas, comedies and choruses performed on the slopes of the Acropolis.

Greek “theatron” – theater in English – means: to watch the land-of-make-believe acted out on stage (or modern media: books/radio/TV/movies).

Olga Pitcairn, US