verb
1. to produce (a text, picture, etc.) by applying inked types, plates, blocks, or the like, to paper or other material either by direct pressure or indirectly by offsetting an image onto an intermediate roller.
Prin·t
verb
2. to reproduce (a design or pattern) by engraving on a plate or block.
Prin·t
Verb
3. to form a design or pattern upon, as by stamping with an engraved plate or block: to print calico.
Prin·t
Verb
4. to cause (a manuscript, text, etc.) to be published in print.
This lecture was another chronologies based on the history of print. This particular subject matter reminded me a lot of the lecture based on Communication and the Mass Media, that was also focused on design and print. Despite this I found it interesting and quite enjoyable to learn about something as important as print through the past up to present day. One of the things I really enjoy about these type of lectures is when we are told about things dating back to, in this case, Ancient China. It's the kind of thing you never get the opportunity to learn about unless you study it specifically, so I feel privileged to be learning about areas like this despite studying animation. It's not only enjoyable but incredibly informative and interesting to have a better grasp of development of certain aspects like this throughout time.
It was emphasised a lot throughout the lecture how important print was and how various things have evolved because of it. One example used was religion. Before religious texts were recorded, whether we look at the Bible, Torah, or the Qur'an; the only way religious practice and teachings could spread or develop was through word of mouth. Because of this different interpretations and ideas were communicated and altered as they spread, leading to distorted information that was easily misinterpreted. Based on this idea, there was an exercise where a piece of information was given to someone and then passed person to person around the room until the final person revealed what they were told, which was very different to the original words and consequently half proved the theory about misinformation being transmitted person to person via word of mouth and reinforcing the importance of print. When people read printed materials, they more than not believe it to be true, or fact. This can also be a dangerous thing as mass audiences can be manipulated into misinterpreting information that they believe to be true due to the fact it's printed. Tabloid newspapers often print half truths, meaning although they aren't false they don't give the full story and allow information to be purposely misinterpreted.
The idea of purposely misleading people and consumerism led us to learn more about propaganda and how it operates. The idea of propaganda during wartime was to be intimidating and pressure people into enlisting. Nowadays it's a lot more mild and is much more suggestive, depicting positive imagery as oppose to negative, forceful imagery.
Finally we were presented with a case study associated with wrestling. The case study showed that as one of the wrestlers was French and the other American, and because of the differential made between the two competitors; the Frenchman was seen as the enemy by the American audience watching the match on American television. Again, showing the power of mass media and communication to a large audience.
Overall, this was a very informative and enjoyable lecture. It was interesting learning in detail how important the use of print is and how it has encouraged the accurate spread of information throughout history. From this, I feel much more aware about the importance of accurate communication and how devastating the spread of misinformed information can be.
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