The year was the 1454th Johannes Gutenberg published the book that would change the media image in Europe, and later the world, forever.
The book was simple, the 42 -row Bible. The spread was admittedly modest, by today's standards, but no less revolutionary. And controversial. Until then, all literature copied by hand by monks. The customers consisted mainly of clergy. This meant that the few printed works that existed was owned and managed by the church.
It was very convenient, especially during a time when the Church's power over the people not only touched the spiritual plane , but to an even greater degree was all about big politics. Since the majority of the people were illiterate, and the priests have a monopoly in the scriptures, it was also easy to manipulate interpretations. Who would control the source?
........
The Internet is the Gutenberg printing press in 2000's vintage. Those in power today could learn a lot from the medieval clergy. The technology is here, ideas are born and shared, cultural and political effects spread no matter what we think of them, or the measures we put in to limit them.
No government is eternal. Nations are fragile . Power is not obvious.
The year was the 1454th Johannes Gutenberg published the book that would change the media image in Europe, and later the world, forever.
The book was simple, the 42 -row Bible. The spread was admittedly modest, by today's standards, but no less revolutionary. And controversial. Until then, all literature copied by hand by monks. The customers consisted mainly of clergy. This meant that the few printed works that existed was owned and managed by the church.
It was very convenient, especially during a time when the Church's power over the people not only touched the spiritual plane , but to an even greater degree was all about big politics. Since the majority of the people were illiterate, and the priests have a monopoly in the scriptures, it was also easy to manipulate interpretations. Who would control the source?
........
The Internet is the Gutenberg printing press in 2000's vintage. Those in power today could learn a lot from the medieval clergy. The technology is here, ideas are born and shared, cultural and political effects spread no matter what we think of them, or the measures we put in to limit them.
No government is eternal. Nations are fragile . Power is not obvious.
Check out this inspiring documentary about Gutenberg:
"Stephen Fry - The Machine That Made Us"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6KmzuULPmQ