Week 3 Discussion Questions

Preface – Chapter 3: The Printed Authorship of the Modern World

1.  Why does Levinson propose that printing in Europe had more impact than China?

Levinson propose that printing in Europe has more impact because it was much more easier to print since it only had 26 letter language which was more convient to use with interchangeable printing type presses. The China printing press was the first created but it consisted of over 20,000 ideographic characters which is way more time consuming to arrange text wise.

2.  Martin Luther thought that people should read the bible themselves rather than rely upon the clergy. Would Luther’s “Ninety-five Theses” have had the same impact in 1517 if Gutenberg had not started printing bibles 50 years earlier? Explain.

      No it wouldn’t because without Gutenberg than there wouldn’t be any ready read material for people to even have in their hands to read by themselves without relying on others word of mouth bible.  Luther wanted people to figure out first for themselves how things should be, for them to open up their own eyes.

3.  Describe how books were reproduced before the printing press and by whom. Describe how this changed after development of the printing press.

Books were all reproduced by hand before the printing press or usually by clergy. The Bible or educational books were all kept by hand and only certain amounts were distributed, even limited to the public to have or use. This all changed with the development of the printing press by people having their own copies and could interpret things how they wanted without just listening to word of mouth.

4.  Why does Levinson propose that the Norse exploration of the New World did not create more impact? Contrast this with how Columbus' reports of the New World fueled the “Age of Discovery”.

Levinson propose that the Norse exploration of the New World did not create more impact because without having a source that could be widely reach to everyone so they could have a idea of the exploration over their nobody could really believe one person’s word of mouth. It would not reach as far, somewhat like it was only a fairytale that could not be believed. While of the other hand Columbus report of the New World was fueled due to the fact he made it popular and grand getting attention from people of high power. He had the printing press on his side to spread the word of the “Age of Discovery”.

5.  The distribution of books is not enough to spread knowledge. For the power of the book to be yielded there needs to be a literate public to access that knowledge. Discuss the role of literacy in building our modern world.

      Literacy holds great power in building our modern world because it promotes one to gain fourth knowledge that has been passed down through trial and error. Now that one could have a book in front of them to read instead of just listening to one person.

6.  A “meme” is an idea, behavior, style or usage that spreads from one person to another within a culture. For example, the fashion of platform shoes, the idea that the earth is the center of the galaxy, or “rickrolling”. How were cultural memes exchanged before printing? In what ways are they exchanged now?

      Cultural memes were exchanged before the printing press by basic word of mouth from one generation to the next. They are exchanged in many ways now from books to news to internet which is just more in a timely manner, more current and fast paced.

Chapter 4: The Age of Photography and the Ageless Image

7.  French film critic André Bazin stated that “Photography is free from the sin of subjectivity”. Explain what he meant by that statement. To what extent is this true?

He meant that whatever was captured on film was what was really there. No manipulation could have been down in early days of film, it was all just right in front of you to discuss.

8.  Levinson reminds us that each form of media is subject to inaccuracies; error can creep into our understanding because of the detachment from direct experience. Describe the ways in which photography can be perceived as an exact depiction of reality. Describe ways in which photography lies.

Photography is only as the picture seems from what is on the film. How it was taken is how you see it, there is no change. Unless your eye deceive you. Photography can lie by how your mind calculates the picture from the photographer wanted you to see.

9.  In 1839, French painter Paul Delaroche exclaimed, “From today on, painting is dead!” Consider painting at the time. To what extent was he right? Explain. What are some of the ways photography changed painting and art?

Painting was a great skill that was learned and took many hours to accomplished. The precision of the work took countless times to achieve, one took great pride in there work. When photography came along many forgot the art form since it was so easy just to capture the landscape or person with just a simple click of a button.