Text: How is it defined?

There are so many mediums in the world that are "text". Books, newspapers, websites, phone texts, billboards, and T-shirts are just a very few of the wide variety of different kinds of text out there. I think all text conveys a message of some kind. Good, bad, or indifferent the things we say, read, wear and show about ourselves say something about us. Whether it is about something we believe or are reading to learn or protest something that text is conveying a message. Text is words, music, or images that we can use to get a point across, enjoy ourselves with or maybe learn something.

Which texts are educational and which are not? I think that question can run the gamut on whether it is or not. Is the written word always educational? Textbooks are. Newspapers and periodicals are. Books just to read (fiction, non-fiction) can be, but might not always. Written musical notes are because as I sit down at my piano to play a piece, I am looking at those notes to learn how to play the music. Text on clothing (tshirts, etc.) could be making a statement about something, but I don't think it is necessarily educational. Signs put up in various places that have information on them alerting you to a problem (hole in the street) or giving you information you need to function in the world(speed limit signs) are educational. Or they could be letting you know about a class being given in Tai Chi that you always wanted to take and you realize by looking at that information that you can take that class. We send many messages via our cell phones to everybody in our address book. Those can be educational if you are letting someone know about a time they have to be somewhere or an appointment they have. Just using it to say "Hey, what's up?" back and forth I don't believe is educational. But that is just my opinion of some of the ways we use and view text in our lives.