Essay II Alexandria Suhadolnik
Rhetoric October 18, 2011
Printing Press: Its Long-Term Cultural Effects
The art of rhetoric becoming more widespread through written language can be attributed to Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in 1440. Without the printing press, the world wouldn’t have undergone cultural changes made possible by improved communication through written word. Being able to take manuscripts and mass-produce them into print was not the only effect of the Gutenberg’s printing press. Its effects radically changed the cultures of the western world. Cultural effects due to the printing press included the spread of knowledge, religious reformation, and nationalism. The printing press acted like a throttle, accelerating the spread of rhetoric, giving it a new audience that no longer depended primarily on oral speeches. Value was placed on print and its ability to permeate efficiently and effectively
Since its appearance, the effects of the printing press have been evaluated by many intellectuals. One of its critics included Elizabeth Eisentein, an author and American historian of the French Revolution. Eisentein was a prominent assessor and critic of the press’s effects on culture. She published books including, The Printing Press as an Agent of Change. Her book analyzed the effects of the printing press on technology and thus on cultural change in Europe. An article analyzing the works of Eisentein stated that her book argues, “print has been recognized as the transformative force in and on history: the history of ideas, religion, and politics” (Sharpe 245). The article elaborates that Eisentein described how the printing press indirectly affected culture, but rather the changes and improvement in technology had direct long
Suhadolnik 2
term effects. Eisentein analyzed the long term effects of the printing press and how it fostered the change in western culture over time. Her book differs from the works of other critiques on the
printing press, because it focuses more on long-term indirect effects of the printing press rather than the direct effects that arose immediately after its invention. Eisentein places a large importance on new immergences of technology on the constant changing world. She argues that technology dramatically effects culture in both positive and negative ways. Her books give analyzing the effects of the printing press a new lens to investigate other important aspects of change that weren’t limited to obvious byproducts like the ability to copy ancient manuscripts.
The printing press played a significant role in the spread of knowledge. It allowed historic manuscripts and modern articles to be multiplied quickly using a machine. Initially, the rise in literacy became prominent; it was then followed by the spread of knowledge. An article states, “Initially, literate Europeans directed their efforts toward recovering past wisdom” (Rosalto 513). People placed importance on works of ancient intellectuals and rhetors. They were adamant about getting the historical works copied to preserve them and spread them and educate a new audience. The printing press did have negative consequences. Some of the historic manuscripts were copied with errors. Some print contained errors as well as truth. Eisentein addressed this problem in her book by explaining that the information being printed had not yet been sorted out. An article analyzing the works of Eisentein stated, “putting the written word into print certainly facilitated the spread of knowledge. But more critical than the diffusion of single texts was the fact that individual scholars had more works available to them than their predecessors” (Rosalto 510). After much of the classical works were printed and made more
Suhadolnik 3
accessible, modern scholars of that time were able to access the older information, change it, and add their own information to it, hence the rise of independent thought. Rhetors, for example, were able to study the works of ancient rhetors, analyze their thoughts, and either argue or add to
the classical works. Before, people relied on the works of classical intellectuals to be educated. New literature changed the curriculum of education and gave rise to independent thought. The ability to spread new ideas quickly through print, gave people an education that included both historical and modern ideas, making them more rounded and independent thinking individuals. Currently, students are able to study the works of ancient rhetors that may not have been possible without their preservation in the 16th century. For example, students are able to study the rhetoric ideas of Aristotle and Socrates. Being educated using ancient as well as modern material gives students a better idea of history they may not of had if the curriculum lacked the wide range of text.
Change in religion during the 16th century, also known as the Protestant Reformation, was caused by written rhetoric and its accessibility made possible by the printing press. Before the reformation, the Catholic Church and its leaders had control over European religious thought. People relied on the catholic religious leaders to educate them about biblical ideas, how to live a just life, and what they should be contributing to the church. Religious thought changed dramatically with the new value placed on independent thought. Independent thinkers, including Martin Luther, utilized the ability to print and changed the religious views of many people around him. On October 31, 1515, during the attempt to reform the Catholic Church, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church. Martin Luther was concerned with the actions of the pope and church, the idea of indulgences, and many other acts committed by the
Suhadolnik 4
church and its leaders. His oral rhetoric used in his speeches was heard by a number of people, but his written pamphlets distributed to a greater geographic area made his ideas more well-known and affective. Luther used the ability to print mass amounts to his advantage. His
pamphlets were spread through Europe to permeate his protestant beliefs. Luther also made changes to texts of the traditional bible and discounted parts of the Old Testament. He gained many followers and his lack of satisfaction toward the Catholic Church was contagious. In her book, Elizabeth Eisentein described the reformation as the power of the press. The ability to spread information gave independent thinkers like Martin Luther, a larger and more diversified audience than if he were only to spread his rhetoric through speeches. Religion and Christianity was and continues to impact the culture of the western world. According to a Catholic education website, a recent study showed that about 33% of the world is Christian and a Christian statistics site says that 30% of Christians are Protestant. Therefore, a large number of people continue to adhere to the teachings of Martin Luther. Considering the great influence the bible and its teachings have on its audience, Luther’s revised bible left a long lasting legacy, affecting the people of his time and continues to influence protestant religions to this day. The ability to spread written rhetoric gave power to Martin Luther that continues to affect religious culture almost 500 years after he posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Catholic church.
The printing press gave a rise to nationalism that hadn’t been as pronounced. One of the effects of the printing press was that language, spelling, grammar, and syntax became more consistent. The consistency of language gave rise to different languages for different regions resulting in nationalism for one’s own culture. The ability to spread ideas through print ushered in independent thinking. The spread of independent thinking and nationalism made cultures more
Suhadolnik 5
consistent with its members having more understanding of the values and norms of their societies. Another effect of the printing press that gave rise to nationalism was the ability to draw lines to create borders around the different regions of Europe. With the ability to make borders and make them known through written communication, members of each region gained a sense of nationalism for the region that inhabited. There was less dependence on leader’s oral rhetoric concerning devotion to their homeland. Written rhetoric had the ability to educate a larger audience making geographic location of its listeners less of an issue. Written language that could be spread quickly, brought people in different areas together giving them a sense patriotism that hadn’t been as rampant before the effects of the printing press.
The invention of the printing press had short and long term effects. It made the availability of written rhetoric, including independent thought more accessible and wide spread. Before the ability to distribute written rhetoric effectively and efficiently through pamphlets, newspapers, books, and other literature, people relied on oral rhetoric to learn about history and gain perspective on current events. With the availability of new print technology, rhetors were able to spread their knowledge, thoughts on religion, and nationalism easily and quickly. The power of written language gave way to new thought that would continue to shape the minds of its audience and change the culture of the western world.
Suhadolnik 6
Works Cited
Rosalto, Renato. “The Cultural Impact of Written Word: A Review Article.” Comparative
Studies in Society and History 23.3 (1981): 513. JSTOR.
Sharpe, Kevin. “Print, Polemics, and Politics in Seventeenth-Century England.” Journal of
British Studies 14.2 (2002): 245. JSTOR.
“Statistics on Religion in America.” The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The Pew
Research Center, 2010. Web. 26 Oct 2011. < http://religions.pewforum.org/reports>.
Weigel, George. “World Religions by the Numbers.” Catholic Education Resource Center. 2002.
Web. 26 October 2011. < http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/facts/fm0010.html>.
No comments:
Post a Comment