E121 Week 5 - Final Paper

Kentucky Writers

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Introduction and Thesis

I chose the article “Kentucky Writers in Kentucky” Wendell Berry. According to the article, writing culture in Kentucky has not developed or is not well established. There is fragmentation associated with the country, and public silence is a common thing. Although Kentucky has enough writers and books, the overall human culture is deplorable. According to the author, enhancing the writing culture needs quality and courageous writers of the books and readers to read and criticize the books. The thesis statement of the essay is that Kentucky does not have sustainable human culture because very few books are reviewed in Kentucky, none of the books published in Kentucky contributes to public discussion, and there is significant public silence.

The essay is an amazing story full of passion and heart. It shows Berry’s true dedication towards writing by deciding to leave New York and going back to his home country, Kentucky. There are many successful writers from and in New York unlike Kentucky, but Berry took it upon himself to make a difference in his home country. Absolutely, Berry making it to the Kentucky hall of fame and being the only writer is a great accomplishment. The essay does not contain chapters or headings, making it a little bit hard to read, but it is interesting and has great content.

I think the essay is an excellent piece regarding how local authors can enhance a unique perspective regarding public matters in their countries. I think Berry and other Kentucky writers are hardly making use of their powerful tools to address different public matters. They can reach many people in the state through their writing and evoke different reactions that will enhance further writing. I believe Kentucky citizens would hardly rely on the Internet for various things regarding the state if writers critically put these things into writing.

However, the Internet is also another way of making these writers’ viral and popular. It provides great exposure to the books to the people. If Kentucky writers want to bring to attention, the things happening in their country, they must work harder and smart to ensure people gain interest in books and more people venture into writing. Through the influence enhanced by books reviewed and published in Kentucky, public dialogues will strike encouraging people to contribute more to different matters of the state.

Wendell Berry focuses on the role of writers in bringing out issues to the public’s attention through writing and publishing of books and other reading materials. He says, “Our Constitution and Bill of Rights just to hint at an immeasurable abundance have come to us from books and from readers of books. To keep our heritage viable and transmissible will require capable writers of books, and a capable culture of literacy, however small it may have to be,” (Wendell, 2015) This is a clear indication of the limited writers and books in Kentucky. Berry outlines that people lack a sense of their culture because there are not enough materials and books to expound these norms and beliefs. He also outlines how well human culture will be established in Kentucky if writers own up their role and address various public matters (Wendell, 2015). People will also start initiating public conversations based on these books which bring about social and political change in the country.

Public silence makes people forget their culture and what was initially part of them. By improving the reviewing and publishing of more books locally, Kentucky citizens will have an opportunity to acknowledge their unique culture and get awareness by having a voice to different subjects addressed by these writers. There is massive information that people need to know and understand their well-being.

This information is not going out to wider audiences in Kentucky, limiting its impact to create change or enable people to know different matters affecting or related to them. Kentucky writers should become more active and aggressive and use their space and talents to create massive awareness and if necessary, action on the issues they raise in their work. Kentucky writers should focus on enhancing and upgrading the writing and publishing industry by improving their writing work and encouraging review and publishing of books in their country to create a great writing and reading culture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kentucky writers should revive their writing work by reviewing and publishing books in the country. Besides, they should address various issues in the country through their books to create awareness and keep people updated on matters affecting them in different ways. They can influence Kentucky’s politics by involving citizens in public issues through their writings. They should focus more on matters affecting the people and not matters on education alone. Books are a better way of addressing political issues and encouraging ongoing conversations between people.

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