COMM 305 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Libertarianism - Answer -The idea of freedom from government control of the press
Authoritarianism - Answer -Absolute control of the press by the government
This is the opposite of Libertarianism
This occurred before the 1st amendment
What are the 3 eras of communication and who termed them? - Answer -Marshall
McLuhan- Oral, Print, Electronic
Describe the Oral era of communication. - Answer -Before the printing press,
everything was oral and most people were illiterate. However, memory was better
because if people didn't remember something, it didn't exist.
Describe the Print era of communication. - Answer -Memories became permanent in
this era. This era was marked by the invention of the movable type print in 1450 by
Johannes Gutenberg.
Literacy increased during this era and more people wanted to read and they later
realized that they were being lied to by authority figures.
Johannes Gutenberg - Answer -Invented the movable type print in 1450.
What was the Protestant Reformation and what did it lead to? - Answer -People began
to interpret bible on their own and began to challenge the Roman Catholic Church. The
rise of the printing press diminished authority rule. Challenges of religious/political
leaders led to authoritarianism because gov't didn't want their authority questioned. Also
led to England's passing of Seditious Libel laws
What is Seditious Libel? - Answer -Criticism of the government or government official.
What are Sedition Laws? - Answer -Something that works to overthrow the
government. You cannot endanger the government or its citizens.
What are libel laws? - Answer -The false defamation of character. You can be sued for
harming someone's character falsely. The more famous you are the harder it is to sue
for libel because you have a platform to publicly address the false accusaations
What were the 3 offices in England that controlled the press? (Authoritarianism) -
Answer -Privy Council,Stationer's Company, Star Chamber
Describe the role of the privy council. - Answer -They were the licensing office in
England. If you wanted to publish anything you had to get permission(license) to publish
from the privy council.
, Describe the role of the stationers company. - Answer -The place you went to after
going to the privy council in which they asked more questions about your publishing
company and who you worked for. If you didn't go to the stationer's company you had to
go to the star chamber.
Describe the role of the Star Chamber. - Answer -Acted as a court in regards to
publishing violations. If you committed the crime you could be punished.
What are the 3 court cases that exemplify the authoritative nature of the English attempt
to control the press? - Answer -William Prine, John Milton, James Nayler
Describe the William Prine Case. - Answer -He was a puritan who had a license to
publish a series of essays. One of these essays stated that women actors were
notorious *****s. The Queen's consort began to act after this essay was published and
Prine was charged for seditious libel because he called the Queen's Consort a *****
even though he published the essay before she began to act. He was tortured and
imprisoned.
What is the William Prine Case an example of? - Answer -The Chilling Effect' This case
made people not want to say anything at all because what you say/print now can later
be seen as a crime so don't say or do anything at all.
What is the Chilling Effect? - Answer -The effort to discourage people from speaking.
Intimidating someone into silence.
Describe the John Milton case. - Answer -He was a famous poet in England who
married a young teenager but later wanted a divorce but the Church of England would
not grant him a divorce so he published some books in response to their rejection such
as "Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce" and "Areopagitica". The church of England felt
that this was seditious libel because they were viewed as a part of the government but
because of his fame his only punishment was having him work as the Censor of
England.
What was John Milton's conclusion in "Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce"? - Answer -
Prine stated that divorce was almost always wrong unless there is a spiritual
incompatibility.
What were Milton's 3 arguments in "Areopatigica"? - Answer -1. Licensing is evil
2. Licensing is impractical
3. Licensing hinders the search for the Truth;
We are by nature communicative people and to have to get permission to express
yourself goes against that human nature. Truth is always going to win even if it takes a
while to get there and the Truth won't emerge if we cut out other people's opinions.
What is is the basis of Milton's arguments in "Areopagitica"? - Answer -Libertarianism.
Libertarianism - Answer -The idea of freedom from government control of the press
Authoritarianism - Answer -Absolute control of the press by the government
This is the opposite of Libertarianism
This occurred before the 1st amendment
What are the 3 eras of communication and who termed them? - Answer -Marshall
McLuhan- Oral, Print, Electronic
Describe the Oral era of communication. - Answer -Before the printing press,
everything was oral and most people were illiterate. However, memory was better
because if people didn't remember something, it didn't exist.
Describe the Print era of communication. - Answer -Memories became permanent in
this era. This era was marked by the invention of the movable type print in 1450 by
Johannes Gutenberg.
Literacy increased during this era and more people wanted to read and they later
realized that they were being lied to by authority figures.
Johannes Gutenberg - Answer -Invented the movable type print in 1450.
What was the Protestant Reformation and what did it lead to? - Answer -People began
to interpret bible on their own and began to challenge the Roman Catholic Church. The
rise of the printing press diminished authority rule. Challenges of religious/political
leaders led to authoritarianism because gov't didn't want their authority questioned. Also
led to England's passing of Seditious Libel laws
What is Seditious Libel? - Answer -Criticism of the government or government official.
What are Sedition Laws? - Answer -Something that works to overthrow the
government. You cannot endanger the government or its citizens.
What are libel laws? - Answer -The false defamation of character. You can be sued for
harming someone's character falsely. The more famous you are the harder it is to sue
for libel because you have a platform to publicly address the false accusaations
What were the 3 offices in England that controlled the press? (Authoritarianism) -
Answer -Privy Council,Stationer's Company, Star Chamber
Describe the role of the privy council. - Answer -They were the licensing office in
England. If you wanted to publish anything you had to get permission(license) to publish
from the privy council.
, Describe the role of the stationers company. - Answer -The place you went to after
going to the privy council in which they asked more questions about your publishing
company and who you worked for. If you didn't go to the stationer's company you had to
go to the star chamber.
Describe the role of the Star Chamber. - Answer -Acted as a court in regards to
publishing violations. If you committed the crime you could be punished.
What are the 3 court cases that exemplify the authoritative nature of the English attempt
to control the press? - Answer -William Prine, John Milton, James Nayler
Describe the William Prine Case. - Answer -He was a puritan who had a license to
publish a series of essays. One of these essays stated that women actors were
notorious *****s. The Queen's consort began to act after this essay was published and
Prine was charged for seditious libel because he called the Queen's Consort a *****
even though he published the essay before she began to act. He was tortured and
imprisoned.
What is the William Prine Case an example of? - Answer -The Chilling Effect' This case
made people not want to say anything at all because what you say/print now can later
be seen as a crime so don't say or do anything at all.
What is the Chilling Effect? - Answer -The effort to discourage people from speaking.
Intimidating someone into silence.
Describe the John Milton case. - Answer -He was a famous poet in England who
married a young teenager but later wanted a divorce but the Church of England would
not grant him a divorce so he published some books in response to their rejection such
as "Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce" and "Areopagitica". The church of England felt
that this was seditious libel because they were viewed as a part of the government but
because of his fame his only punishment was having him work as the Censor of
England.
What was John Milton's conclusion in "Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce"? - Answer -
Prine stated that divorce was almost always wrong unless there is a spiritual
incompatibility.
What were Milton's 3 arguments in "Areopatigica"? - Answer -1. Licensing is evil
2. Licensing is impractical
3. Licensing hinders the search for the Truth;
We are by nature communicative people and to have to get permission to express
yourself goes against that human nature. Truth is always going to win even if it takes a
while to get there and the Truth won't emerge if we cut out other people's opinions.
What is is the basis of Milton's arguments in "Areopagitica"? - Answer -Libertarianism.
