Writing in the Digital Age
A Review of Lisa Dush's "When Writing Becomes Content"
The digital age has seemingly forever shifted the goals and expectations for writers... or has it? The article “When Writing Becomes Content” by Lisa Dush explores the evolution of writing fields, both in its production and reception, with a stronger focus on digital medias. As a professor, Dush uses an academic perspective to argue that writing in the digital age has been increasingly understood and practiced as content, defined as “[…] conditional, computable, networked, and commodified, highlighting its digital nature and the need for writers to adapt to these changes." According to Dush, content creation often prioritizes visibility and optimization over conventional notions of literary authorship, through mediums such as digital analytical tools that widely influence writers.
“When Writing Becomes Content” is centered around the transformation of the written word in a technologically driven, capitalist society. This transformation has happened in both professional and creative spaces, as writing being used in entirely new and strategic ways to encourage its engagement. Dush compelled me to think on a deeper level about what we are seeing with content creation. The issue goes beyond how information is consumed, but rather, in how and why it is created. Writing is being malleated to find its audience. From journalists that hope to get enough clicks on an article with a striking-enough title, to songwriters that shape an eight second segment of their song to go viral on social media, written content is about being marketable.
“I'm disappointed that some of my best gone on to content creation jobs where they are expected to be hooked into their employer's social media channels nearly 24-7, so that they might […] respond quickly if something untoward is posted to Twitter. This does not seem like a pleasant or sustainable way to make a living."
Lisa Dush, "When Writing Becomes Content"
While many of the points Dush makes in her article are substantiated through anecdotal and researched ideas involving the intersections of digital media and writing, there are more concerns to consider in modern days with the accelerated use of AI writing. I don’t find that this is an oversight of hers, given that her article was written a decade ago; rather, it is an additional layer to take into consideration for modern-day conversations. Dush already creates a strong basis for concern with digital content overtaking spheres where it negates the creativity and personal expression in writing: “When writing is content, then, we must imagine machine audiences, programmed to algorithmically manipulate any composed text […] at many places in its rhetorical travels." Dush makes this point while analyzing “computable” content, or information extrapolated from algorithms and datasets that could easily be manipulated. Like many conversations involving (generative) AI, digitalized information has a different experience from a consumer’s side, versus the creator’s side. As a receiver and consumer, it is efficient. Finding what you are searching for, and then processing what you are given, is laid out for you quite simply. As a creator and a supplier, this type of content straddles a fine line between efficiency and laziness, what is meant to be a tool easily becoming a crutch. AI generated songs are trending on social media. AI generated women model different beauty products to sell to the general public. Surely there are lines we should not ever cross inviting such technology into our creative spheres?
"The real danger is in ignoring content: if content has indeed changed
the rhetorical game, composers
who ignore it risk failing in their
rhetorical attempts, and a field that
ignores it risks marginalization and
missed opportunities for growth."
Lisa Dush, "When Writing Becomes Content"
The most interesting aspect of Dush’s argument is a recognition of the nuance with “content,” with respect to the definition of the term that she provided. Dush offers that we might acknowledge grave points of unease with the change in writing fields, while articulating “ways to include our field's core values—such as social justice, civic participation, accessibility, ethics, and sustainability – in the core of content work.". There is something rather fascinating to me in Dush’s conclusion, as it feels as though she feels this dramatic shift in writing is inevitable. The nature of humans is to evolve, and that includes our methods of communication. Efficient communication is never something to fear at face value; in many ways, content is an efficient way to convey an idea to an intended audience. Unfortunately, writing that is content poses threats to a natural flow of collaboration and conversation that is a part of the natural writing process, as well as the reading process. When written word is adhering to an algorithm, tailored to a palatable audience, are we not jeopardizing authenticity? Are we writing to appease a chosen audience, rather than writing and letting the appropriate audience find us? Should we simply accept such a change in writing, that undermines the value of non-digitalized written work?
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