Johannes Gutenberg… introduced modern book printing. His invention of mechanical movable type printing [circa 1439] started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important event of the modern period. It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution and laid the material basis for the modern knowledge-based economy and the spread of learning to the masses. (Wikipedia)
Gutenberg’s printing press introduced a practical, cost effective means for the mass production and distribution of books permanently revolutionizing the accessibility and control of information and ideas. Forgive this run-on sentence for a run-on idea. A half millennium later digital publishing is once again revolutionizing the production and distribution of information. I refer to this transition as the Post-Gutenberg Paradigm, and I am attempting to curate some of the digital content related to publishing in the digital age below. I welcome your input. Please contact me with additions and feedback.
We’re plunging headlong into the post-Gutenberg era, and it’s a thrilling, alarming and somewhat unpredictable ride. The wild west of content creation, packaging, interface and distribution. The familiar and profitable Gutenberg Paradigm that has guided content creators, consumers and the publishing industry through the decades (through the centuries in some cases) is becoming increasingly obsolete. A new paradigm is emerging. What follows is a digital scrap book of one man’s adventure in the post-Gutenberg era, an attempt to curate the artifacts of my social media journey.
http://storify.com/virtualdavis/postgutenberg-paradigm
[…] and an up-close-and-personal glimpse at how traditional publishers and agents are adapting to the Post-Gutenberg Paradigm. The day was an eye opener. I’ve overviewed the highlights […]
George,
This is the best, most succinct description of the current state of publishing I’ve heard. Welcome ot the “Wild West” , indeed!
As the word world shifts on its access, some will celebrate, some will grieve: All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.
Guns blazing, Kathy. Glad you liked (and endured) it, though I suspect you’ll be the ONLY one to describe this still-evolving “data dump” as succinct! ;-) Sometimes distilling is distorting…
“All changes… have their melancholy; for what
we leave behind us is part of ourselves; we must die to one life before
we can enter another.” Wow! Sounds like Neil Postman crossed with Buddha, spoken by A.E Housman, Paula. I agree 100% and I’m going to quote you loudly and often. But first, better print that gem and stick it on the wall above my monitor. :-)
[…] and an up-close-and-personal glimpse at how traditional publishers and agents are adapting to the Post-Gutenberg Paradigm. The day was an eye opener. Below I’ve overviewed the […]
[…] writers, publishers, editors, agents and booksellers wandering the Wild West known as the Post-Gutenberg Paradigm, it’s more evident than ever that technology creates more demand than it satisfies. […]