Empire of the Word is a four part series examining in detail the phenomena of reading, past, present, and future. Reading is such a basic fundamental part of so many peoples lives that it is widely taken for granted. But the development of writing and readable words remains one of the most monumental happenings in the history of our world. This series discusses it all, starting with the invention of written language, as derived from symbols such as cave paintings to the invention of portable methods of displaying words, such as papyrus. The problem of illiteracy is delved into, as a great many people in the world today can not read a simple newspaper headline, and simple instructions in life are not available to them. The written word is given more of a reverence as the series delves into censorship and the often drastic ways reading or reading specific materials has been forbidden through the years. And finally, the future of reading is hypothesized, as now high tech devices are taking the place for traditional books, making reading more accessible but possibly problematic. From the first words to digital books on cellphones, Empire of the Word takes a fascinating look into a practice none of us tend to think about. MORE

Empire of the Word Shows Online