1/28/2021
CH 1, 2
After reading the first two chapters of “Paper: An Elegy” by Ian Samson, I know more about the manufacturing process of paper and this material’s symbolic meaning in different cultures during its long history. I am surprised by the wisdom of humans who participated in the invention and development of papermaking. At first, people had to spend hours beating the mix of bark and rugs to get a pulp ready for separating and drying, and now, with mechanization, papermaking machines take over the hard work. Although the development of the manufacturing process results in unemployment, it dramatically increases efficiency and productivity, and now the paper is accessible to most and has become an economical and ideal alternative to many raw materials. However, I feel pity that the diversity of paper has rapidly dropped due to the application of papermaking machines. In chapter one, Samson mentions some methods of hand papermaking in existence, such as the paper company that makes paper using elephant dung in England (15). Those handmade papers have their own history and traditions. While the technology invades the papermaking industry, their traditions are abandoned, and many disappear without any records.
Paper is valuable because of its symbolic meanings. It is not just a piece of paper but a carrier of literature, art, communication, history, and culture. It can be a book, a piece of painting, a photograph, a newspaper, a magazine, a schedule, etc. In many cultures, people worship paper. In ancient times, the paper is controlled by the most influentials, such as emperors and bishops. Paper has always been the symbol of civilization and art.
In chapter two, Samson focuses on the primary raw material of the paper, the wood. As we all know, paper manufacturing is one of the main consumption of the forest, but it is still surprising to learn that the making process also emits greenhouse gases and consumes water. We are in the process of replacing paper with new technologies. In these two years, electronic devices can perfectly mimic handwriting, and e-books are more user-friendly. I agree with Samson that “paper remains the ghost in our machines (36),” but I still believe that paper supplies will gradually fade into history, just like those handmade paper mills.
Citation:
Sansom, Ian. Paper: an Elegy. William Morrow, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2015.
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