Forwarding

Joseph Harris outlines the idea of "forwarding" in chapter three of his text "Rewriting: How to do Things with Texts." Basically, the main purpose of forwarding is to present outside sources of information - or other texts, ideas, terms, keywords, and/or images - and then re-present them by adding your own take on the issue at hand. Harris writes that "in forwarding a text, you extend its uses." You don't simply cite it and move on. No, forwarding is all about giving new life to an existing theory, text, or idea. It is about taking what is known, or already understood, and thinking about it differently. It is about personally evolving an idea.

Although we may not always recognize our own use of forwarding, it is something we do quite frequently. Any discussion had with classmates, with a family member, or even with a friend, is most likely an example of forwarding. Think about it, for any class discussion, the teacher presents an idea and asks the class to expand on it, or to offer their opinions. In English class, for example, I and my classmates forward ideas all the time. During every class we are presented with quotes from the blogs we have written and then expand on the more interesting ones. We also discuss the readings we are assigned, such as blogs and other articles. In both instances, we add our own ideas to what we have read, keeping the topics alive and in motion.

When relating the technique of forwarding to that of a conversation or discussion, blogs become an obvious source to find such techniques. In essence, a blog is after all, a continuous online discussion. Andrew Sullivan's blog, the Daily Dish, is especially successful at forwarding ideas. A large chunk of The Daily Dish is made up of writings from people responding to previously presented issues. When these people make a new post, they take the previous information and offer their own insight and/or opinion. Foster Kamer, for example, wrote a piece called "The Truth Just Sounds Different," in which he presents a series of quotes from Levi Johnston (concerning the recent scandal between him and Sarah Palin) and offers his take on their purpose, or what he sees them to mean. Kamer suggests that perhaps Johnston is "lying about all this (the claims that Palin pushed to adopt the child Johnston had with her daughter, and that Johston has further secrets about Palin which he won't release because he doesn't want to hurt her). He has a motive: to get access to his son, and to make lots of money." The act of Kamer taking these statements from Johnston and then evaluating them, is the very technique of forwarding.