GEN&SEX 50B Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Cultural Imperialism, Movable Type, John Wycliffe
20 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Gender, Literacy and New Technologies
- Intersectional Analysis (Kimberle Crenshaw):
Main argument: the concept of a generalized “essential” gender identity does not address differences
among women based on race or culture
Proposed method: recognize intersectional identities to understand the complexity of belonging
simultaneously to several groups
- Cultural Studies methodology:
Image: what’s in the frame
Political economy: what enables the image to be made and to be circulated ($$$)
Audience reception: how the image is received differently by different groups
- Printing and Power (Ewen and Ewen):
Argument: the invention of the printing press radically shifted relationships of power
The printing press became an instrument of capitalism and labor and exploitation
But also- an instrument of protest and revolution
Claiming divine right
“The Bible was the word of God, the universal law, but its interpretation was left to those
privileged few who would read it.”
Within the context feudal Catholicism, biblical interpretation tended to underwrite the
immense social, political, landholding power of the church.” (299)
Feudalism and the word
“While feudal power was often held and defended by the sword, it was justified by the word.
The monopoly over the ability to interpret what was read was the fundamental aspect of
rule.”
The Babblers and the Lollards (early 1300s)
John Wycliffe and the Babblers/ Lollards
Traveled through the English countryside reading the Bible aloud in the vernacular language
Wycliffe branded a heretic by Pope Gregory XI
Moveable type
Johann Gutenberg (1450)- invented a mechanical moveable type printing press
Printing and commerce
Standardized transactions and contracts
Enabled dissemination of information and imagery
Established and maintained commercial networks
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Main argument: the concept of a generalized essential gender identity does not address differences among women based on race or culture. Proposed method: recognize intersectional identities to understand the complexity of belonging simultaneously to several groups. Political economy: what enables the image to be made and to be circulated (669$) Audience reception: how the image is received differently by different groups. Argument: the invention of the printing press radically shifted relationships of power. The printing press became an instrument of capitalism and labor and exploitation. But also- an instrument of protest and revolution. The bible was the word of god, the universal law, but its interpretation was left to those privileged few who would read it. Within the context feudal catholicism, biblical interpretation tended to underwrite the immense social, political, landholding power of the church. (299) While feudal power was often held and defended by the sword, it was justified by the word.
