Reading and Watching: What does the written word have that images don't? by Dick Schram

The biennial (international) conference organised by the Dutch Reading Foundation is called Reading and Watching and was held on 21 November 2008. For 20 years now, the Dutch Reading Foundation has been a successful factor in the promotion of (literary) reading. It is a generally recognised fact that the ability to read is important for development and social success. The fact that intensive reading improves your reading proficiency and your vocabulary is widely accepted as well. However, other effects have been ascribed to reading (literature). Reading literature sharpens your intelligence and fosters an insight into and understanding of other people and things. Literature teaches you to ask questions, is disturbing and makes the certain uncertain. Some people even claim that reading makes you a better person. But are the supposed effects attained from literature alone? Could the same be achieved from images (television, films, games)? What does the written word have that images don’t? What is it that actually legitimises reading promotion? At this conference, we set out to establish the answers to these questions.