This image can be obtained at www.eslweb.org/587.htmAs we take a look back at history, we can recall the beginning of an era that emerged into current modern day printing . Johann Gutenberg was the inventor of the printing press, a machine that had the ability to duplicate material in a couple of days (McConnel & Huba, 72). This new innovation changed the lives of many; this German inventor opened the path way to change. "The availability of printed materials made possible societal, cultural, familial, and industrial changes facilitating the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the scientific revolution"(McConnel & Huba, 73). The printing press made it possible for emerging activists such as Martin Luther (Reformer of the Christian faith) to reach out to the masses and be able to voice out his opinion through text. "In just three years, between 1517 adn 1520, Luther's 30 publications probably sold more than 300,000 copies" (McConnel & Huba, 73).
The printing press emerged a channel for self expression and the spreading of information. If it werent for the printing press, our era would have never been as evolved as it is now; world wide written sources wouldnt of been able to be known and the ability of express ones opinion could have been more difficult to show. "A new cultural die had been cast. Truth had been democratized. Society had been wrecked and rebuilt in new and egalitarian ways" (McConnel & Huba, 74).
1 comment:
Im glad that you have posted this and put pivotal historic technology back into a context which relates to our daily lives. in order to move forward i believe it is necessary to look back. Johann Gutenberg, the Bavarian led a revolution, a revolution which required an intelligent audience. The next step seemed to be literacy, which hardly anyone was at those times.
Only the rich had the luxury of literacy, which is why they had always altered the true meaning of the Bible to further empower themselves.
However, through time peoples of varying countries empower themselves by being able to read. My point being the empowerment has shifted to the internet. The internet empowers even the smallest voice as we can all see evident through blog swarms
Still a large percentage of people do not own or use the internet. While that number is declining, as stated in our text by McConnell & Huba, " nearly 139 million people in the world subscribed to DSL. Yearly worldwide growth was 42% meaning 800,000 increase". (Citizen Marketers p.63)
Each year more and more people subscribe to faster and faster internet meaning more activity, more applications, and more communication. The internet and its varying resources is the new movable type of this century.
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