Essay in Lieu of Exam (Final Essay)

Q4.     When publishing changes, so does society. Investigate and compare the impact of two publication technologies, one pre-1900 and one post-2000, on a specific aspect of society (e.g. education, politics, creative industries, science, entertainment, social relationships)

Advancements and developments in publication technologies have had profound impacts on education in society because they have provided the general public greater access to knowledge and introduced new ways of standardized learning. The progression in publishing also illustrates the changing ways in which individuals understand and gain knowledge of the world (Brannon, 2007). This is why one of the most vital developments of publishing has been within education, which has been consequently redefined by publishing practices and assemblages (Shaviro, 2007). The education system proceeding to the 1900s vastly contrasts post 2000s education, through the advances in such technologies, from the printing press to the internet.

Printing press

Gutenberg’s Printing Press

Proceeding to the discovery of the printing press, books were luxuries only provide accessibility for the upper echelons of society because of the extremely time-consuming and expensive cost of the printing process. So that there was clear class group as learning was a symbol of status for the elite, on the contrary, the poor were ignorant and unable to educate themselves. Most noticeably of all influences on the printing press in the area of education was its promotion of the dissemination of knowledge to the general public. The printing press is a publication technology which was designed and created by Joannes Gutenberg in 1440. This process no longer employed handwritten replication of a manuscript, but rather a manuscript that would be molded by page and afterward pressed with ink onto paper into many copies (Arthur, 2004). In addition to this, the printing press also encouraged a standardization of spelling, punctuation and grammar (McLuhan, 1962). It can be seen that the public at present had access to printed information as books were more affordable and. Thus, it can be regard as the beginning of literacy amongst the general public began. As a result, in comparison with the previous way, the printing press enabled greater and faster distribution, contributing to the newfound, broad marketplace of knowledge.

Furthermore, the efficiency of the printing press in its initial stages, which utilized faster distribution affecting numerous audiences that turned into an attractive way of spreading religious propaganda (Farzaneh, 2009). Even so, the benefits of the printing press became well-known to a greater plenty of publishers, those of whom hoped to publish literature, manuals and paraphernalia. Therefore, the proliferation of such publications allowed for a comprehensively educated audience who were receptive to entertainment, education and new beliefs (Farzaneh, 2009). One example of a change in society due to this new access to knowledge and the competency to explain it was the general public’s undermining of the massive spiritual impact in society and ultimately the beginning of the move away from the Church to a secular society (Rubin). Even if such censorship became a challenge to the liberalism of publishing, these improvements and developments formed a chance for the public to find diversified evaluations, opinions and knowledge.

Another remarkable affection of the printing press on education was its transformation of learning. Besides, this type of publication revolutionized the school system, be without any prejudice of class or wealth. As a matter of fact, prior to the printing press, information was passed verbally from scholar or teacher to student, which meant the pupil would certificate such teachings through dictation (Eisenstein, 1983). Nevertheless, because this reason, this kinds form of education were enabled for biased, subjective teaching that could not be learned without being in the presence of an instructor. Fortunately, the printing press created a textbook in which could not be manipulated by the particular tutor’s opinions or beliefs. It also allowed for a greater student population with the ability for learned abilities to be learned at home, away from the school setting (Eisenstein, 1983). As a consequence, such flexibility and diversified knowledge, provided more excellent education environment enhancing interaction and exploration of the 1400s.

Moreover, according to McLuhan (1962), the printed book was a new visual aid for all students, which changed the relationship between the student and the teacher and the way students learned. It is the same as what Eisenstein said, the printing press impacted the way students researched and encouraged the view of academic writing as a source of formerly owned material (Eisenstein 1979) and scholarly reading as the gathering and interpreting of this original material (Eisenstein 1979). This laid the foundations for modern student research. These newly allusive language rules changed on the student and their interpretation of information, which finally furthered their literacy levels. The printing press was a catalyst for the introduction of the Education Act (1870) (www.parliament.uk), which made education compulsory for all British children. It can be imagined that once literacy among the general public increased; societies were a continuity of both oral and literate cultures (Rosenberg, 1987).

Unfortunately, the act of publishing during this period also enabled various forms of plagiarism which caused the level of reliability in education. This form of education allowed for biased, subjective teaching which could not be learned without being in the presence of a tutor. The author was not highly compensated for their publication and thus individuals did not seek acknowledgment for their efforts (Olsen, 2011). There is no doubt that this formed a large misinterpretation of information that inadvertently impacted education in a negative way(Hall, 2008). These debates over plagiarism are widespread within a contemporary setting, with modern publishing practices such as the internet proliferating plagiarism。In all, it can definitely be said that with the introduction of the printing press, and thus a new form of publishing, came with it the change of society. In particular, the education sector has changed and benefited primarily from the printing press as it led to a more educated society but also bring hidden problems at the same time.

Internet

Internet can be regard as a remediation of the printing press, which has had profound influences on education in society. In comparison to this, the Internet can be treated as another publishing tool that once implemented, has changed society soon after. Certainly, with the rise of the Internet and participative social Medias, publishing experience another kind of conversion with the digital age. Consequently, society’s strategy to deciding who can publish, when they can publish and how they can publish was also revolutionized. Once entering the 21stCentury, because publishing became normalized, individuals do not need to be required to have the highest qualifications for becoming a publisher. This has lead to a shift away from the traditional hierarchical structure of publishing power. Similarly to the printing press, the Internet has widened the access to and spread of information within the general public, which has empowered them.

Prior to the Internet, audiences were viewed as homogenous masses that were unable to negotiate or reject the information or media messages they were injected with (Errington & Miragliotta 2011). However, the advent of the Internet has shifted this view of audiences. It is comparable to the printing press, the internet has initiated a whole new way to access data, facilitating parts of society who previously may not of been have chance to access information the ability to now do so. The internet has given the ability to anyone who owns a computer and be able to access to the internet to produce, publish, distribute, access and reuse information and knowledge. When talk about education, the Internet has changed the sector, and thus an aspect of culture, immortally. In the online databases, journals and websites are some of the new approaches society can access a range of information online. It has made information and education available within people’s fingertips. If an individual long for learning about a certain topic’s answer or a particular question, all needs be done is to seek a computer, survey online or search on the web for various pieces of information in regards to their enquiry.

Similarly to the printing press, the Internet has transformed the way students learn as it encourages the active participation of producers (Jenkins et al. 2005). Lots of schools and universities in any country now adopt the Internet as a tool to promote in their education process for their students. Generally, Class work and information is usually stored on an online database such as Blackboard and Moodle for university students like New South Wales University, while schools now prefer implement online textbooks rather than physical textbooks can be seen as a means of easier access to educational content.

In extension, if a student misses a class or is incapable to attend class physically, for whatever reason, the knowledge point always can be accessed through the Internet for them to go over in their own time. For extending from this idea, learning online can be provided for students who live in remote areas or cannot easily attend an educational institute in person. Via posting educational content online through the Internet available for students to access, they are still being granted an education, and society on the whole is benefiting from wider access to education. Completing research assignments on relatively unknown topics has never been easier thanks to the Internet. In Gray’s opinion, teachers need to get on board and learn how to integrate the technology. Schools and educators have the opportunity to use these tools in a very creative way. Teachers need to continue to support to do it well(2012). Enhance, the application like e-book on the internet is becoming more comprehensive, playing an important role in regulating education systems around the world and consequently, promoting a general, global community.

It is essential to consider any negative change on the education of society that may have resulted from widespread use of the Internet. The ability for a user generated content online has flourished, causing the possibility of inaccurate or downright misleading information available to the general population. This can be seen through sites such as Baidu which can produce both beneficial and detrimental effects on education of society because there is much room for inaccuracies as people can post information with no canonicity requirements, no matter how incorrect it may be, this also encourages free-thinking and spreads knowledge and ideas.

Similarly to the printing press, Plagiarism is another issue that the internet causes for the education system. Even if it was previously possible to copy from a book like the printing press, it is much easier and more likely for this to happen with the internet around. Some educators argue that the ease with which people can ‘copy and paste’ information makes it too tempting for students to do just that - rather than thinking and developing their thoughts and ideas. According to the 2011 study called ‘The Digital Revolution and Higher Education’, “most college presidents say that plagiarism in students’ papers has increased over the past 10 years” (Parker et al, 2011). Fortunately, The internet also has developed methods to combat this plagiarism phenomenon and protect their copyrights with sites called ‘Turnitin’ and ‘The Plagiarism Checker’ which explicitly cross check for phrases and sentences elsewhere on the internet.

In conclusion, via a detailed analysis of the influences of print and digital publishing technology, it can be concluded that as publishing changes, community is both immediately and discursively affected in the process. Through exploring both the positive and negative impacts the printing press and internet, in their particular contexts, an in-depth understanding of their role in the societal shifts of education has been obtained. Gutenberg’s printing press transformed the lives of many by spreading religious propaganda, transformation of knowledge and delivering education to an audience beyond the privileged and brings better access to the greater community even if it still have piracy problems. In a similar way, the introduction of the Internet has further enhanced our methods of publishing like e-book and knowledge sharing, though coming at the misleading information and plagiarism. Overall, speculations are continuously raised in relation to what the future has in store as emerging publishing technology proceeds to revolutionize society.

Reference List:

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