Literate culture: Writing

January-17-12 4:27 PM

1pm sema 101 wed Three types of writing systems: Pictographic (graphic, pictures) Logographic (logos) Phonographic (sound) Pictographic or pictographs = pictorial representations of concrete objects (CIH, P.29) The pictogram resembles the objet it repreesnt. --> Sumerian pictographic tablet, 4th Century BCE Logographic = a sign or a character representing a word. The logogram does not resemble that for which it stands (such as Chinese symbols, twitter) Phonographic = a symbol representing a vocal sound (such as the alphabet) with the least words to represent a sound, it's more phonographic ph is worse than f Robinson questions the supposed superiority of alphabetic systems, pointing out that "modern hieroglyphs" are "striking back" (CIH, P32). Indeed, logographic signs are back. They are in relation with logographic Nike example, you are paying for a logo, a symbol

The Canadian Mind: Innis and McLuhan

McLuhan was optimistic, 60th, TV, RADIO just immerged Innis is more rational, scientific mind, department of economy Harold Adams Innis (1894-1952) Born in 1894 near Osterville, Ontario. In Chicago, he earned a Ph.D. in Economics (1920) with a thesis on the history of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. He spent his career at the University of Toronto, at the Department of Economics. Railroad was important to create Canadian identity. Connect the east and west Primary Recourses Theory Empire and Media: A huge empire like Canada, how can someone control the other province from here, "must be considered from the standpoint of two dimensions, those

of space and time." as an empire, not only want to reach bigger distance and make sure you are maintaining your power at this time. Biases medium. When empire is choosing media, it chooses biased media either emphasize on space or time. However, the more you emphasize on you, you lack the other one which evtually cause the fail of the empire. The biases of communication A theory by Harold Innis TIME "time-biased media seek to transcend time. They are heavy and durable, such as clay and tone. They have a long lifespan but they do not encourage the extension of empires. () for Innis, speech is also a timebiased medium. Speech, in the form of oral culture, can be passed down from generation to generation, yet does not encourage territorial expansion. Emphasize your power in time, power is limited in terms of territorial expansion. Example: clay tablet, super heavy Reading: Harold Innis " though admirably adapted by its durability to use over a long period of time, clay as a heavy material was less suited as a medium of communication over large areas. Its general character favored the collection of permanent records" Innis, CIH, p.19 Religions tend to favor the conquest of time i.e. ; it wants to remind unchanged through time. Innis thinks that the empire that can remind a balance last long The biases of communication A theory by Harold Innis SPACE "space-biased media, conversely, seek to obliterate space. They are light and transportable and can be transmitted over distances. They are associated with secular and territorial societies and facilitate the expansion of empire over space. Paper is an example of space-biased media; it is readily transported, but has a relatively short lifespan since it degrades, and can be easily destroyed or lost" i.e. Papyes Space biased Reading: Harold Innis Papyrus Military empires tend to favor the conquest of space (Roman empire) BOOK VS. IPAD (kindle) Book has a bias of space, for time, it's not gonan last forever IPAD: a space bias, more efficient

In time, physically, the book is more biased, Ipad will be out as the tech grows. On feature for time biased: it reminds fixed as time goes by

Writing creates a new culture

A "literate" culture that is different from "oral "culture What is a primary oral culture? A question by Walter J. On A culture that has no texts and no reliance on writing A culture that is based on the production of sound Sound is: evanescent, dynamic, constantly in movement The challenge for these cultures is to organize material for recall According to Ong, knowledge in oral cultures limited and groupmined (limited in distance, have to gather in order to hear) You need to be physically presented in primary culture You know what you can recall? -human memory vs. Technological memory Characteristics of oral and literate culture, accordng to Walter J. Ong Oral cutlrue Main media: Orality Type of Knowledge: Subjective knowledge such as proverbs, legens magic Literate culture Literacy (text) Objective and scientific knowledge such as encyclopedias

Social values: Spontaneity and collectivity Transmission of knowledge: Mnemonic techniques for recalling (pre-history)

Isolation and individuality

Inscription techniques for recalling (history)

Space Obliterate space, light and transportable media Papyrus, paper, printed books expansion of empires,

Time Persistence in time heavy and durable media Clay, stone, speech Expansion of religions

Primary orality: main oral culture with no choice of text, talk in person Secondary: pass through, different medium of communication, intermediaiaria , mediation (texting, letters, emails) Audiences: primary, you have to be there; secondeary, you don't have to be presented Isolation, global village; lanugage barriers, Social tendencies: secondary, don't have to physcially interact, Email is literately culture. Email is not speech

Tutorial week 3
January-17-12 9:02 PM

1. 2.

What is the significance of the change from stone to papyrus? Easier to write on Transport Lighter Scibers Spread empire and religion War was a lot easier to start Who was Hanold Innis and why is he important? Harold Adams Innis (1894-1952)

Born in 1894 near Osterville, Ontario. In Chicago, he earned a Ph.D. in Economics (1920) with a thesis on the history of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Trade is easier, Connect east and west, unite the nation --> time and space biases Bible itself is both space and time biased, as paper, it is space biased The book itself is space biased Space Mass audience Short transmissions Over distances Anything with paper Time token Tablet, stones Long-life span Not encourage territorial expansion

Speech vs. debate: time biased, transit generations by telling another people Radio: space Paper: space Stone: time Space: TV 3. Walter Ong describes 2 type of culture, ORAL +LITERATE! WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES? How did they transmit knowledge? Characteristics of oral and literate culture, accordng to Walter J. Ong Oral cutlrue Main media: Orality Type of Knowledge: Subjective knowledge such as proverbs, legens magic Literate culture Literacy (text) Objective and scientific knowledge such as encyclopedias

Social values: Spontaneity and collectivity

Isolation and individuality

Transmission of knowledge: Inscription techniques for recalling Mnemonic techniques (memorial (history): making recodes devices) for recalling (pre-history) ie. Rap, ,

Require education 4. What are some similarities and differences of primary and secondary orality? In relation to groups audiences? Social tendencies? Spontaneity? Primary orality: main oral culture with no choice of text, talk in person Secondary: pass through, different medium of communication, intermediaiaria , mediation (texting, letters, emails) Audiences: primary, you have to be there; secondeary, you don't have to be presented Isolation, global village; lanugage barriers, Social tendencies: secondary, don't have to physcially interact,