Throughout the course of the semester I have noticed the progression of the units in class. These knowledge units build off one another and each have a specific area that they are used in a culture. Folk knowledge is chronologically first because of the minimal requirements needed for it to be used. Oral knowledge builds off of folk knowledge because it is basically folk knowledge but is disseminated publicly. Written knowledge further builds off these two since it was used to write down folk and oral knowledge so that they would not be forgotten. Print knowledge is written knowledge that is massed produced and easily accessible to the world at large.
As I have posted about folk knowledge and have read others’ posts, I have noticed that folk knowledge is taught mostly in the home and is most important for children. Some folk knowledge posted on the blog was my post on brushing teeth, or Alyssa’s post on midwifery. In my folk knowledge group during today’s salon we agreed that things such as rituals and traditions are folk knowledge. Things such as when a boy becomes a man through rite of passage or marriage are folk knowledge and have different meanings and traditions in different cultures.
Oral knowledge builds off folk knowledge. As cultures became more advanced individuals and groups (bards, Greek philosophers, etc.) traveled throughout their country disseminating knowledge that they had gathered. Tales of Gods and heroes and different philosophical ideas were some of the knowledge that was disseminated orally. Diane’s post on Homer’s epics and Kody’s post on prayer are examples of oral knowledge. During the salon my group and I discovered that before things were written down most government, religious and civil matters were of an oral nature. Heralds are a good example of this. They were king’s messengers who were sent to give proclamations.
Written knowledge is very connected to oral knowledge as compared to the other knowledge units. During the time of the Greeks and Romans, Oral knowledge reached its greatest zenith through great orators like Julius Caesar, Cicero, Plato and Socrates. Also, written knowledge grew just as rapidly. Massive libraries in Rome and Alexandria were established. Monuments with written text also reached their zenith during this time period. Alyssa’s post on Why did Plato Write? and Kody’s post on medicine and writing show the importance of written knowledge and its connection to oral knowledge.
Print knowledge is very similar to written knowledge with several key differences. With the invention of print books could be mass-produced, lowering the cost. With the lowering of cost, subjects that did not have as much priority, when knowledge had to written by hand, could now be published. Also, the perusal of knowledge became a much more individual pastime. Before, books were owned by the elite and the Catholic church. Common people had to listen to them to get information and had to take their word that what they were saying was true. Now, almost everyone has access through printed material. In my salon group I brought up an interesting subject that had to do with my civilization. My civilization was the Jewish nation and with the invention of the printing press the Jewish scholars had to debate whether or not the Torah should be allowed to be printed. Before, the Torah was written by hand by one person from start to finish. This ensured that copies were pure in form and that they were written by a holy individual. In the end, they decided that it was okay as long as some Torahs were written by hand. It is interesting to compare this to the Bible. Christians were very anxious to have the Bible printed and distributed to the general population.
This class has opened my eyes to a world I had not noticed before—the world of the institutions of knowledge. Before this class I had the narrow-minded view that everything came from Google and Wikipedia. Now I understand that I have learned so much from so many different sources, some very ancient in origin. Never again will I look at the acquisition of knowledge the same again.
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