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Toronto – The written word: in prehistoric times, it took the
form of drawings in caves. Today it speeds past on the screens
of our electronic devices at the touch of a finger. How did the
simple act of reading come to be? How has it shaped our lives?
And what role does a modern society play in providing and
protecting literacy for all? Wednesdays at 10 pm from
November 25 to December 16, TVO examines these questions in
the world premiere of Empire of the Word, a
fascinating four-hour documentary series chronicling the origins
of reading and writing and its impact on 5,000 years of human
history. Empire of the Word is presented by Oxford
Learning.
Hosted by renowned Canadian-Argentine author Alberto Manguel and
based on his History of Reading (Viking, 1996), Empire
of the Word explores how reading and writing were born; how
we learn to read; who or what might prevent us from reading; and
the future of reading. Eight years in the making and shot in 15
countries, the series journeys from prehistory to present day
and beyond, illustrating how reading and writing are
inextricably linked to human evolution and existence.
We witness some of the people and events that create the story
of the written word: the genesis of the alphabet; the earliest
forms of portable reading; Alexander the Great’s dream of the
first universal library; the role of Irish monks in saving
reading during the Dark Ages; the groundbreaking concept of
interpreting your own meaning from a text; the printing press;
and the challenges and opportunities for reading in a digital
world. At the heart of the series is the question of why reading
has survived throughout the ages despite poverty, resistance by
organized religion, authoritarian rule, censorship, learning or
health impediments and interactive media. While the invention of
the Gutenberg press some 500 years ago made reading a universal
possibility, the ability – and freedom – to read and write is
not as universal as we may think, even in the 21st century.
Insight from authors, bloggers, educators, historians and
scientists brings Empire of the Word to life and feature
interviews in the film include:
- former lieutenant-governor of Ontario James K. Bartleman
- print/digital author and Governor General’s Award nominee
Kate Pullinger
- U.S. publisher Barney Rosset
- Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard
- Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen
Empire of the Word premieres on TVO’s The View From
Here and is the jewel in the crown of TVO’s season-long
programming commitment to literacy. Leading up to each Wednesday
night episode of Empire of the Word, at 8 pm TVO’s
flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve
Paikin, will support the series and its online companion,
Empire of the Word Online, with discussions around literacy.
Empire of the Word Online
Coupled with the documentary series is Empire of the Word
Online, an innovative, interactive website available
starting today at
tvo.org/empireoftheword. The site
immerses visitors in the past, present and future of the written
word.
Visitors can engage in a compelling, interactive mystery game
that explores the themes of censorship and freedom of
expression. Using elements of storytelling, networking,
real-world events and dramatized videoblog footage, the mystery
unfolds over eight weeks and revolves around the character of
Lekha, a young Canadian writer who is trying to collect the
pieces of an ancient Hindu text that has been suppressed for
centuries. Players must help her locate the pieces with clues
provided by another character, a dissident writer, in order to
take Lekha to the next stage in her journey and push the
narrative forward.
Visitors can also connect with each other in an online community
to discuss issues, share ideas about reading and collaborate on
the solving of the game.
The site will also provide a variety of educational games, links
to relevant sites and a series of video interviews showcasing
Canadian authors who discuss the topic of dissident writing.
Look for Paul Quarrington (The Ravine), April Lindgren (Headline:
Murder) and Russell Smith (Noise), among others.
Additionally, all episodes of the documentary series will be
available for streaming at
tvo.org/empireoftheword following the
broadcast.
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