Republic of Noise : The Loss of Solitude in Schools and Culture

In Republic of Noise, Diana Senechal confronts a culture that has come to depend on instant updates and communication at the expense of solitude. Where once it was common wisdom that the chatter of the present, about the present, could not always grasp the present, today we treat real time as though it were the only real time. Schools emphasize rapid group work and fragmented activity, not the thoughtful study of complex subjects. The Internet offers contact with others throughout the day and night; we lose the ability to be apart, even in our minds. Yet solitude does not vanish; it is part of every life. It plays an essential role in literature, education, democracy, relationships, and matters of conscience. Throughout its analyses and argument, the book calls not for drastic changes but for a subtle shift: an attitude that honors solitude without descending into dogma. Outspoken, lyrical, and unassuming, Senechal's book dismantles the groupthink that pervades our lives. "In this book, Diana Senechal confronts a culture that has come to depend on instant updates and communication at the expense of solitude. Schools today emphasize rapid group work and fragmented activity, not the thoughtful study of complex subjects. The Internet offers contact with others throughout the day and night; we lose the ability to be apart, even in our minds. Yet solitude plays an essential role in literature, education, democracy, relationships, and matters of conscience. Throughout its analyses and argument, the book calls not for drastic changes but for a subtle shift: an attitude that honors solitude without descending into dogma"-- Provided by publisher. "In this book, Diana Senechal confronts a culture that has come to depend on instant updates and communication at the expense of solitude. Schools today emphasize rapid group work and fragmented activity, not the thoughtful study of complex subjects. The Internet offers contact with others throughout the day and night; we lose the ability to be apart, even in our minds. Yet solitude plays an essential role in literature, education, democracy, relationships, and matters of conscience. Throughout its analyses and argument, the book calls not for drastic changes but for a subtle shift: an attitude that honors solitude without descending into dogma"--Résumé de l'éditeur Machine generated contents note: Chapter 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 Introduction: The Chatter of the Present Chapter 3 Definitions of Solitude Chapter 4 Distraction: The Flip Side of Engagement Chapter 5 Antigone: Literature as "Thinking Apart" Chapter 6 The Workshop Model in New York City Chapter 7 The Folly of the "Big Idea" Chapter 8 The Cult of Success Chapter 9 Mass Personalization and the "Underground Man" Chapter 10 The Need for Loneliness Chapter 11 The Practice of Solitude Chapter 12 Discernment and the Public Sphere Chapter 13 Conclusion: Setting up Shop Chapter 14 Bibliography Chapter 15 About the Author Chapter 16 Index.