Do you think these new forms impact our attention span and cognitive culture?
Yes, the new forms of media likely impact our attention span and cognitive culture. The context states that we still do not know enough about the impact of electronic media, multiple channels, and instant accessing and surfing. However, we can observe certain changes.
In earlier times, in non-literate societies, people relied on memory and oral transmission of knowledge. For instance, students of Indian classical music are still discouraged from writing down what they learn and are expected to carry it in their memory. This requires sustained attention and strong cognitive skills.
In contrast, the contemporary world allows us to rely more on written, audio and visual records. With instant access to information, our ability to retain information in memory may be reducing. This can create a situation of culture lag, where our cognitive and normative aspects struggle to match the rapid advances in technology.
Explanation
This is a 2-mark short answer question. The answer draws from the textbook's discussion on cognitive aspects of culture and the contrast between oral/literate traditions. The question is posed in the textbook itself, indicating it is open to student interpretation. Key concepts used: cognitive culture, oral tradition vs written records, culture lag, and electronic media. The answer acknowledges the textbook's position that we don't fully know the impact while providing reasoned analysis.