The Development Of European Mass Media During The Age Of Reformation

Although it was several centuries later than Chinese, the invention of printing by Gutenberg, a German, in the middle period of 15th-century, brought a great influence in Europe. The history of the mass media had a qualitative change since then. Reformation rose just then. People of all circles had cognizance of the important of media. They used various forms of the mass media to spread their thought. This promoted the expansion and pervasion of the Reformation, which became a great social political movement. At the same time, advanced technique and various forms of the mass media spread in the society quickly. It provided not only a better environment for the public communication, but also the chance for the development of media business and for the transmission of new thought, science and art. It has acted as a sticking point in the progress of human culturel. In This essay, the author would discourse upon the development of the mass media and the relation between mass media and the Reformation as follow:Foreword: In this part, it offers the concept, develop direction of the mass media and the relation between it and social; the correlative study about the development of mass media during the age of Reformation.Firstly, the growing of mass media as business was quickly during the age of the Reformation, which couldn't get away from the foundation of the social development or history background. The introduction of paper and the invention ofprinting changed the form of the dissemination medium. This is the necessary condition. The social economy developed to a certain extent. It provided the material condition. The inflated requirement of the spirit cultural made media became the urgent demand. The ruling class provided the guarantee for various mediums entering the public literary circles. The discovery of the New Continent and new sea-route provided the chances of communicating in the range of the world.The second, the mass media has various forms, including the book, leaflet, pamphlet, newspapers and magazines, picture, song list and so on. Because the replication by printing can make a great deal of duplicate, the quantity of mediums increased rapidly, the formality also changing step by step. Some of them became the new things of the age as early rudiment of modern media styles. According to the medium's characteristic of each style, people made use of them in different situations broadly, such as expressing directly or indirectly and exchanging their emotions.The third, in the Reformation, all circles of people, such as the protestant and their supporters, the force of Catholic, the government of all countries and the masses, used various mediums frequently consciously or unconsciously, in the fighting for their self-interest. Mass media became the necessary tool and bridge of struggling, contraction, communication among all classes and estates. No matter which side it is, mediums are the weapon to propagandize own thought. They also keep antagonism thought from influence gradually utmost. Media was very necessary to people, but it also seemed too fearful. However, as all the conflicts developing and changing, every side accelerated the progress of the mass media.The fourth, the mass media also have a great influence to the movement of reform. The movement's expanding provided a great space for mass media to exert influence. Each side of power had obtained some effect in disseminating their own thought and solidifies their status depending on mass media.The fifth, the mass media has some characteristics during the age of Reformation. The mass media had some new progress as a kind of independent industry by dint of all sides' effort during the age. It grew up rapidly from a weakplumelet. Everything is different from anteriority, such as the increasing of print shops, the emergence of the newspapers and magazines, the appearance of periodical presswork, the development of libraries and the evolving of bibliography. The special history background and environments brought up the special contents, forms, languages and transmitting route of the mass media.The sixth, the development of mass media has important significance to all the aspects of the society. It is no doubt of the development of the media industry, except for printing turning more technique, the revolution of libraries. Language, culture, art, thought and all kinds of culture had been impacted more or less. By the way, it impact of active promoting win a great advantage over the passive one.Conclusion: It was importance of the mass media during the age ofReformation. It was emphasized again that the mass media hinge function tomankind history.