In the Jan 17th issue of The Economist there is an article entitled "The Readers."  In it, the  2007 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) reported proportion of 17 year olds who read nothing (unless required to do so by school)more than doubled between 1984 and 2004. Last month (Jan 17th) NEA reported that for the first time since 1982, when the survey began, the number of adults who have read, poem, novel, short story, etc. in the past 12 months has risen ----->  from 47% to over 50%.  Additionally, increases most marked, were amongst African American and Hispanic men between the ages of 18-24; a gain of 24%.

This has thrown educationalists→(is that a word?) in a “tizzy”.  Tizzy? It seems somewhat obvious to me, though I am neither and educationalist nor in a tizzy.  With the proliferation of novels adapted to the big screen (and TV)  there is reason for moviegoers to seek out other works not  made into a feature film/TV show by the authors represented via Box Office, Network, Cable, or otherwise.   To add to that, the success of minority plays, such as, I don’t know,  anything Tyler Perry does and shows like The Mind of Mencia or Def Poetry Jam (though it has been around for a while) are more reasons to seek out literary works either by the performers themselves or at least by those who are  complimentary to what is being patronized.

The NEA did state that there is “a measurable change in society’s commitment to literacy” and I guess I would congratulate us on that.  That being said, I am a bit concerned that the educationalists did not take pop culture into account for the shift.  I am sure they think it is one of the culprits for our unchanged overall literacy rate as a nation and am I by know means suggesting that kids should watch television to reinforce good reading habits.

If my hunch is on the right track, this is a good example of social behavior change and a good example of how the powers that be don’t quite get it.    

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