Audiobooks, Podcasts, and the Aural Future

The Topic:

In light of increased adoption of aural formats – i.e., audiobooks and podcasts – a few questions must be considered. Is listening old or new? What is gained and lost in listening as opposed to reading? What is the future of listening?

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Readings:

  1. Listening Assignment ♫ Please listen to a podcast.
  2. A Brief History of the Audiobook (Book Riot, June 2016) https://bookriot.com/2016/06/28/a-brief-history-of-the-audiobook/
  3. The Future of Podcasting is Strong (Nieman Lab, March 2017) *Read only the Infinite Dial 2017 section (stops at “Quick Note on Missing Richard Simmons”) http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/03/the-future-of-podcasting-is-strong-but-the-present-needs-to-catch-up/
  4. Is Listening to a Book ‘Cheating’? (Washington Post, July 2016) *A blog from UVA psychology professor Daniel Willingham https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/07/31/is-listening-to-a-book-a-cheating/
  5. The Beginning of Silent Reading (Quartz, November 2017) https://quartzy.qz.com/1118580/the-beginning-of-silent-reading-was-also-the-beginning-of-an-interior-life/
  6. [Optional] - For more data on podcast listeners, skim through this study: https://www.slideshare.net/webby2001/the-podcast-consumer-2017

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is “listening”, as a form of consumption, old or new? How so?

  2. What do you think can be gained by listening to an audiobook or a podcast, as opposed to reading a book or an article? What can be lost?

  3. What, in your opinion, is the future of listening? Is this all just a hype? Will listening continue to grow in popularity? Why or why not?

  4. What technological advancements must take place, or what barriers must be removed, in order for this medium to thrive?

  5. What is the role of aural learning in the classroom? Is it accessibility? Engagement?

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Created:

Created by Paloma Bengoechea Romero, Darden '18, February 2017.