Nr. 3 (12) anul IV / iulie-septembrie 2006 - ROMDIDAC

eseuILEANA MARINS.U.A.Editing erasures and authorial intentionsWErasure as Part of Writingriting and erasure seem to be two aspects of the same creative process: whilewriting physically means to inscribe the text onto the surface, erasure is anattempt to clear the formerly inscribed surface, to restore its original blankness,or simply to modify the initial visual image and/or meaning of the text. Althoughwriting and erasing have been conceived as necessary and inseparablecounterparts, there is no myth of erasure in the Western cultures under whoseauspices the act of erasing has developed its independent existence.Interestingly enough, in Plato’s dialogue Phaedrus, the myth of writingis not apologetic or laudatory; writing is condemned as a debasing activity,an activity, which replaces the active memory and “true wisdom” with a meresemblance. Socrates tells Phaedrus the meeting between Thamus, the King ofEgypt, and Theuth, the wise, who invented not only serious sciences such ascalculus, geometry, astronomy, but also entertaining games such as draughtsand dice. Theuth presented the King his most recent invention, writing, as “abranch of learning that will make the people of Egypt wiser and improve theirmemories; my discovery provides a recipe for memory and wisdom” (Plato,274 e). The king’s answer is harsh and painful:Ex Ponto nr.3, 2006‘O man full of arts, to one it is given to create things of art, and to anotherto judge what measure of harm and profit they have for those that shall employthem. (…) if men learn this. It will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they willcease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is written, callingthings to remembrance no longer from within themselves, but by meansof external marks. What you discovered is a recipe not for memory, but forreminder. Ant it is not true wisdom that you offer your disciples, but only itssemblance, for by telling them of many things without teaching them you willmake them seem to know much, while for the most part they know nothing,and as men filled. Not with wisdom, but with the conceit of wisdom, they willbe a burden to their fellows.’ (Plato, 275 a)78