JORDAN PATTERSON
Staff Writer
Technology undoubtedly has a short shelf life, with new advancements happening on a regular basis. But sometimes older technology makes a mainstream resurgence.
Today the Brown Bag Lecture Series returns to showcase this phenomenon with guest speakers explaining the return of older media. The theme of the lecture is “The Resurgence of Vinyl, Books, and Cassette Tapes: Looking Back To Go Forward.”
Assistant to the Director of Libraries Kathleen Sacco, Digital Services Librarian Sara Parme and Music Librarian Kevin Michki will all be sharing the stage and will all have to chance to give their insight on the matter. The question that these panelists will be trying to answer is, why is the old technology still preferred in some instances?
Parme, who organized this particular lecture, will open up the event with her highlighting the advancement of digital innovations over the last few decades. Sacco’s lecture will focus primarily on the preferred book format over new e-books and e-readers. Michki’s talk will switch the mood over to electronic media, specifically with music, and argue why this older technology is still relevant.
“Digital content is being created at such a rapid rate now,” Parme said.
While Parme’s talk will dive into the changes that have taken place within media, Parme said that “It’s what hasn’t changed that interests me most.”
“Students still, by and large, prefer print books over e-books. Most people either sold or threw out their vinyl collections ages ago, yet students are bringing record players to school,” said Parme. “Weren’t these mediums supposed to be dead by now? Why [will] forms of media that were supposed to have been replaced by a faster, lighter, better, sexier product not go away quietly? Is this a trend? Or are these old-school products here to stay?”
Fredonia students have noticed this trend, but some have mixed feelings of this sentiment.
Junior computer science major Jeremy Eckstrom attributes the resurgence of older media to feelings of nostalgia and younger individuals attempting to connect with an older time. However, he believes that the majority of older media has served its purpose, and newer media is a “necessary, next step.”
“Although I see the importance of older media, there is a specific reason that ‘new’ media has surfaced,” said Eckstrom.
Senior BFA sculpture major Julian Perez shared his thoughts on the topic.
“I prefer new technology because I believe it gives society more opportunities for development and success in a variety of fields such as medicine, business and finance, and even the arts,” Perez said.
While Perez’s preference lies with newer technology, he does have an attachment to one aged invention.
“I love film cameras. It’s a much more hands on process than digital cameras, and I love the satisfaction of developing film and having a successful negative. It’s an intimacy that doesn’t really exist in the digital world,” said Perez.
The Brown Bag Lecture Series opens up the floor for a vast amount of topics to be discussed. Parme expressed her enthusiasm for the lecture series.
“My favorite thing about the Brown Bag Series is that [it gets] a multitude of people, students, faculty, staff and community members in the same room at the same time. One topic may get presented, but everyone’s bringing their own perspective, their own set of experiences, their own education, into the room. The best part, for me, is the discussion that happens at the end and the outgrowth of projects that are inspired by the conversation,” said Parme.
The lecture will be held in room 204 of the Williams Center at 12 p.m.