Calligraphy: The Disappearing Art
by Charlton Wilbur
During the past century, computers have transformed our lives in countless ways. One of the greatest transformations has come in the way that we communicate. Word processing has changed writing into a quick procedure that allows almost any writer to eliminate basic spelling and grammar errors. Emails have enabled people to be connected to the world at a moment's notice. Yet perhaps the greatest change to communication has come from the diminished use of penmanship in favor of computer input.
In recent decades, the use and development of special forms of penmanship have disappeared. Calligraphy, in particular, has declined into a lost art form. This historic form of penmanship, a legacy of ancient times, is used less and less frequently. Centuries ago, calligraphy became widespread in Asia, the Middle East, Rome, and Greece. It was designed for copying sacred texts and to record historical events. It was once mastered like a fine art. But it is now commonly viewed as a specialty writing form used for wedding invitations and other special occasions.
Many scholars lament the fact that artistic writing has slowly disappeared from mainstream use. They believe that digital fonts have decreased the need for such creative writing forms. Others believe that the lack of practicing such penmanship has diminished the fine motor skills of writers. Some experts think that people who cannot read special forms of writing like calligraphy or cursive are a pessimistic reflection of modern life.
Calligraphy is an art form that should be admired and honored. However, as with many forms of art, times change, and often people abandon one type of art for another. It is reasonable to expect that calligraphy has become scarcer—maybe even nearing extinction. Calligraphy is something that is neither needed nor necessary in our increasingly technological world. But it can still be cherished in the same way that paintings and sculptures from hundreds of years ago can.
Along with that, people really shouldn't fear that the dwindling use of calligraphy and other detail-driven penmanship forms will impact fine motor skills. Modern technology offers a replacement: people can practice those skills in a similar way by manipulating keyboards, mouses, touchscreens, and other devices. Word processing on a computer, texting on a smartphone, and playing video games on computers or consoles are digital ways to develop fine motor skills. In many cases, technology might even enhance fine motor skills.
Computers can actually keep calligraphy alive through the abundance of digital fonts that are available. Some script fonts offer calligraphic styles that can be printed with precision and uniformity, allowing for multiple sizes, colors, effects, and placement. In fact, digital fonts can even end up being more visually appealing than handmade lettering.
So as the twenty-first century moves along and the reliance on penmanship such as calligraphy wanes, there is no need for concern. It's not a prelude to the extinction of ornate handwritten forms. Calligraphy will always be available on computers and on display in museums. And for a few people who hope to study in the written form, it will live on as a specialized art forever.
18
Which sentence from the passage best develops the central idea that calligraphy is no longer a specialized art?
A.
"They believe that digital fonts have decreased the need for such creative writing forms."
B.
"Computers can actually keep calligraphy alive through the abundance of digital fonts that are available."
C.
"It is reasonable to expect that calligraphy has become scarcer—maybe even nearing extinction."
D.
"In recent decades, the use and development of special forms of penmanship have disappeared."
C. "It is reasonable to expect that calligraphy has become scarcer—maybe even nearing extinction."
The sentence that best develops the central idea that calligraphy is no longer a specialized art is:
C. "It is reasonable to expect that calligraphy has become scarcer—maybe even nearing extinction."