The lack of necessity of technology in order to have literacy. The power of printing. Social, psychological, and unexpected changes associated with printing, newspapers, radio, television.

      Hieroglyphics, hieratic, and hierarchy -- priestly-scribal classes and the domination of the first river valley civilizations. The alphabet as a democratizing invention. Alphabetization as an invisble, but essential, technique.
      Was it really "communication" we were of electronic "communication," and their social uses. Changes in communication patterns, gendered use of technology.

READING: Volti, Ch. 9, "Printing" [2nd edition: pp 135-148]

135. What significance does early writing have?
135/136. What are oral and mnemonic traditions? Do you have any?
136. "literacy" -- any exceptions to the historical model?
[137/138: Gutenberg's innovation involved two types [no pun] of solution - in principle, and in practice]
137. Printing : a system -- what are it's other elements?
137. What are books printed before 1500 called?
137. Did printing help promote rational modes of thought? maps/exploration? or vice versa?
139. Could one really check theories readily/better if published information was faulty? Criteria of adequacy? of validity?
139. To say that "printing played a key role in transforming conceptions of the spiritual world" -- Technological Determinism? Hyperbole?
140. Protestantism/printing as spurs to the vernacular: Good? Bad? Evaluate.
140. Who was necessarily literate before Gutenberg? After?
141. The concurrent developments of capitalism and urbanization signify what, to a theory of technological change?
141. Did printing lead to a sudden revolution?
142. What do you think of Volti's speculation about the psychological effects of printing?
142. Define "cryptic, elliptic, hyperbolic,. . ." [McLuhan]
143. After printed books, the next most important printed product was, in Volti's opinion?
143/144. List some of the important technological developments that changed the volume, range, and timeliness of communications in the 19e.
145. What does V. think of reportage in general?
146/147. Technol. Det? Tech/Soc relations? Complex process of social, political, economic change?

Volti, Chapter 10, "The Electronic Media" [2nd edition, pp 149-167] [Radio - Commercial Radio - TV - FCC - Regulatory Problems - TV and associated issues]
-Is cultural degradation of an electronic medium an inevitable aspect of commercialization? Why or why not? ["What have they done with my child?"
-- Lee deForest]
- Does mass "communication" really lead to a leveling "homogenization"?
- In what sense ought one not to call TV "communication"?
- What is "invisible" on TV?
- How does TV affect scientific and technological literacy? Does it help promote particular associations of gender [masculine/feminine] with different aspects of science or technology?

- Computer technology can be an electronic medium of communication. The World Wide Web seems to resemble the early days of radio broadcasting. Based on Volti's history, what might you predict for the future of the WWW? What is your opinion about what will happen with computer-mediated communication?