Media Audiences Are Manipulated, Passive Audiences. Art and Branding Essay

Media Audiences Are Manipulated, Passive Audiences. Art and Branding - Essay Example 119-129). Fashion advertising makes use of signifiers in the creation of an identity, which is usually through the portrayal of fashion through high status, youth; high-sexual appeal, which is augmented by constant reiteration, intended to enhance the identity continuum. Discussion The intermix of images which has been fashioned by the most talented designers, artistes, models and photographers is intended to sell the fashion as a creation founded on image and to sell these images as the epitome to the society (Martin & Bush, 2000, pp.441-454). There is clear evidence of this in fashion advertising in which the products are restricted to a select few by their high prices yet the identity images are sold to the public in the media. This means of advertising is therefore effective in creating an image in the society through media as to stylishness and power through the portrayal of fashion in the cultural and socioeconomic perspective. This mode of advertising therefore offers predicta bility and enables marketers to control their customers since the product functions as a consumption of the promoted images and as enhances the very images in the general society (Adomaitis & Johnson, 2008, pp.182-192). Through fashion advertising, firms that sell similar products get the motivation of competing since they find unity in their common objective of advertising of life styles and standards of fashion. An analysis of high fashion therefore establishes the image identities that are constructed by the media and the fashion industry. W magazine is a classic example of the unity in advertising as shown in the print media. The magazine portrays a particular constancy in the depiction of images showing an alter-reality of sexy youthful women, high-priced products, and art. The magazine stresses more on advertising and editorials are limited as its April issue clearly illustrates. Over half of the 544 pages contain direct advertising while the remainder is filled with photograp hs of fashion, which may be from several brands yet are united in a particular aspect such as model or photographer. The photographs in most instances display the brands and the costs of the products. Advertisement in the magazine therefore serves to reinforce images and identity, which is the primary objective of the magazine (Phillips, & McQuarrie, 2011, pp. 99). The distribution of the magazine is also centered on promotion and selling of the same. The magazine is intended for the high-class society and those that look up to them. A large part of the magazine is dedicated to a discussion and analysis of the life styles of the consumers of its high fashion products. The magazine has sections, which are dedicated wholly to the exploration of the lifestyles of their high-end clientele such as artists and directors. The W magazine is available for subscription at a price of two dollars fifty and has a bout a million subscribers. The remaining costs of production are met by the sale o f advertisements, which are priced at 44000 dollars for a page. This means that the magazine is in the main financed by the purchase of its pricey product offerings by a very small number of high-end societies (Phillips, & McQuarrie, 2011, pp. 99). Art and Branding An analysis of the print media brings out a unity in attributes in artistic expression such as the variety of the color, sense of fashion, and the gorgeousness of the forms, which is responsible for the creation of the identity of a

History of education Essay Example for Free

History of education Essay Education has its downfalls. Students are only taught what society sees fit to teach them. This ideology has an astound effect when used as controlling propaganda. If a society doesnt want students to learn about a certain period of history, then it is not taught. Children might hear stories or tales from elders, but the majority is left in ignorance. In the United States, education is a tool to succeed in life. The quality of education that a student receives depends upon many issues. One of the biggest differences in education is between public and private schools. In a society that values money, such as ours, the rich are given a better  background in education than most people. For the general public, students are taught the same material, and excel at different rates than other students. The people that dont grasp the material usually fall behind and become the working class within our society. Those that excel become the backbone of our society, fueling our economy and developing ideas within our world. The difference in education is not only the skill that is provided, but also the attitude. The skills that are learned are definitely important, but the determination and attitude learned is priceless. The communists came up with the idea of equality for everyone. Every person gets the same schooling and education. This concept cannot possibly work. Every person is different, and some people lack the ability to work in a technical field. Everyone has a place in society, and some people will work hard physically all of their lives. Not everyone can be number 1. Inequalities definitely exist in education. The rich seem to get richer, and the poor seem to become poorer. A society consists of different classes of people, and each class is essential to the survival of all. The gap between the rich and the poor can never be eliminated, but by educating our people maybe it can become smaller.

Financial Services Regulation Literature Review

Financial Services Regulation Literature Review Literature review on financial services regulation Consider whether flexibility in implementation of financial services regulation can undermine legal certainty. Does a move towards principles-based regulation of financial services presage a regulatory creep without a statutory grounding or does it allow regulators to keep pace with the financial services market? Introduction Regulation is often unpopular, and may be viewed as unnecessary. However, the existence of market failure is a reality in certain markets that needs to be corrected by some form of government intervention. In the financial services industry, for example, there is clearly a need for some kind of regulation as demonstrated by, for example, the Nick Leeson affair or the Enron scandal. Yet such cases also demonstrate the failure of regulation – the regulatory systems in place did not succeed in preventing these two debacles. Hodgson (2006:247) takes a positive view of regulation, or at least of the right kind of regulation, arguing that ‘[r]egulation can and should be a necessary, proportional and beneficial approach to the organisation of society. It lets us police the supply of goods and services and maintain standards and resolve complaints within a properly established legal framework, but without inappropriate political involvement or, in most cases, resort to the court s.’ Financial services regulation in the UK – objectives In the UK, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has four statutory objectives: market confidence (maintaining confidence in the financial system); public awareness (promoting public understanding of the financial system); consumer protection (securing the appropriate degree of protection for consumers); and reduction of financial crime (reducing the extent to which it is possible for a business carried on by a regulated person to be used for a purpose connected with financial crime). In addition, the FSA is guided by a set of principles to which it must adhere. For example, it must use its resources efficiently, and any restrictions it imposes on an industry must be proportionate to the expected benefits of the restrictions. Furthermore it should avoid stifling innovation where possible. This means that the FSA must allow for different means of compliance in order not to unduly restrict firms and industries from launching new products and services. In addition, the FSA should help to maintain the competitive position of the UK internationally. In order to promote competition among the firms that it regulates, the FSA should avoid creating any unnecessary regulatory barriers to entry or expansion in any of the markets it regulates. Hodgson (2006:251) explains that the ‘FSA was set up to do rather a lot of things: to promote market confidence and public awareness of financial services (meaning encourage savings), protect consumers and reduce financial crime. It is also required to maintain the international success of Britain’s financial sector, promote competition whilst minimizing any adverse effects, and weight the costs and benefits of its own actions. Plenty of scope for conflicts of interest there.’ An assessment of the move to more principles-based regulation must examine how such a move is likely to impact on all of the objectives of the FSA. Principles-based regulation and rules-based regulation Cunningham (2007) explains that since the Enron scandal and other debacles in the financial services industry, there has been a trend to categorise rules-based regulatory systems as bad, and principles-based regulatory systems as good. However, he argues that the distinction being made between â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principles-based† systems is false and misleading. Cunningham (2007:3) claims that while an individual provision in a regulatory system may be â€Å"rules-based† or â€Å"principles-based†, these ‘classifications are too crude to describe or guide the design of corporate law, securities regulation or accounting systems.’ That is to say the terms are not scalable to the level of an entire system. Instead, Cunningham (2007:4) points to ‘the necessity and value of combining rules and principles and the difficulty of designing systems warranting classification as rules-based or principles-based.’ While it may be the case that any regulatory system is necessarily a hybrid made up of a mixture of â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principles-based† individual provisions, that does not mean that some systems are not â€Å"more rules-based† or â€Å"more principles-based† than others. Indeed this notion ties in with the reality of the UK financial services regulatory system. As will be seen below, the system is already a hybrid of â€Å"rules-based† and â€Å"principles-based† approaches, and it is moving towards â€Å"more principles-based† regulation. Regulatory creep There are various definitions of regulatory creep. The Better Regulation Task Force (2004:3) define it as ‘the process by which regulation is developed or enforced in a less than transparent fashion and not in accordance with our five Principles of Good Regulation.’ The BRTF (2004:5) goes on to identify four examples of how regulatory creep may occur when regulation takes place without transparency. In the first place, ‘a lack of clarity about the intention of regulation, particularly goal-based regulation, both on the part of regulators and those being regulated, can lead to unnecessary compliance burdens.’ Secondly, the way that guidance ‘is developed and used can influence enforcement activity and compliance, again leading to unnecessary burdens that bring little benefit to those the original regulation was designed to protect’. Thirdly, it is argued that ‘enforcement activity can induce over compliance in those being regulated’ and finally, ‘ombudsmen’s rulings can have wider regulatory implications’. Jones (2004:6), on the other hand, points out that ‘there is a positive aspect to creep. Formal responsibilities may leave gaps in enforcement. Shifting priorities and creative interpretation of a regulator’s brief may be necessary to tackle newly emergent issues.’ Moving towards more principles-based regulation: the case of the UK The first point to make is that in the UK, Principles-based regulation has existed since 1990, and the eleven high-level Principles for firms (see box 1) have been in place since 2001 (FSA 2007a:4). The FSA is now talking about a ‘more Principles-based approach’. This shift is based on a move towards broad-based standards instead of detailed rules together with an increased focus on outcomes-based regulation and an increase in senior management responsibility. According to the FSA (2007a:4), ‘Principles-based regulation means, where possible, moving away from dictating through detailed, prescriptive rules and supervisory actions how firms should operate their business. We want to give firms the responsibility to decide how best to align their business objectives and processes with the regulatory outcomes we have specified.’ Moving towards more principles-based regulation: pros and cons There are clear advantages to a principles-based approach to regulation, but such an approach also carries certain risks (of which regulatory creep is just one). The challenge is to achieve the right balance between principles and rules. As the BRTF (2004:6) explains, ‘part of the attraction of goal-setting regulation is its flexibility and we do not want to discourage this. Nor do we want to discourage the use of guidance as a useful alternative to regulation for driving up standards. But where does guidance as a useful alternative in driving up standards end, and regulatory creep begin?’ In this section, I will review the pros of a move towards more principles-based regulation, and I will then outline the various risks or cons associated with such a move. One major advantage of more principles-based approaches to regulation is increased flexibility and responsiveness to innovation and market developments. de Serres et al (2006:32) find that ‘financial system regulation has a statistically significant influence on output and productivity growth as well as on firm entry, via the impact on industrial sectors relying more heavily on external sources of funding. The economic impact is also found to be substantial enough to matter, yet sufficiently small to remain credible.’ This highlights the need for financial system regulation to minimise unnecessary regulatory barriers to entry or expansion in the financial services market. According to the FSA (2007a:5), a principles-based system is likely to be more durable than a rules-based system precisely because of its flexibility. ‘Financial markets are constantly changing. Continuous innovation and new product development are important ways in which the financial services industry generates benefits for consumers and markets. It is important that regulation can respond rapidly to the pace of change in markets and so allow them to continue to develop for the benefit of their users. We believe regulation that focuses on outcomes rather than prescription is more likely to support this development and innovation. Any set of prescriptive rules is unable to address changing market circumstances and practices at all times, and it inevitably delays, and in some instances prevents, innovation.’ Another benefit of more principles-based regulation is that it should provide greater freedom for firms to develop their own approach to compliance. According to the FSA (2007a:7), a more principled-based approach does in practice mean ‘giving firms increased flexibility to decide more often for themselves what business processes and controls they should operate.’ In addition, a move to principles implies less need for detailed rules which leads to a simplification of the rules or handbook. The FSA (2007a:8) views a simplified handbook as a side benefit of a move to more principles-based regulation, rather than a key driver behind the move, additionally arguing that, ‘reducing the overall size of the Handbook, however desirable, does not in itself deliver principles-based regulation. Even a substantially reduced Handbook will still be regarded by many as a daunting prospect. We should therefore not measure our success in achieving principles-based regulation by the number of Handbook pages or the number of rules they contain, but by the effect that the Handbook review, together with other initiatives, achieves over time.’ Perhaps one of the most important potential advantages of a move to more principles-based regulation, if properly implemented, is a greater degree of substantive compliance as individuals and firms come to comply with outcomes and the general principles rather than on the detailed rules – as the spirit of the law is prioritised over the letter of the law. Another key advantage is the increased engagement of senior management. The FSA (2007a:12) explains that ‘Moving towards principles-based regulation has significant implications for how we work with firms on a day-to-day basis We are looking for firms to take greater responsibility for how they meet their regulatory obligations. This responsibility in many cases will be taken on at senior management and Board level, using the various materials that will be available and, where necessary, conversations with us†¦ Firms will see a difference in how we behave towards them. We will give greater recognition to firms’ own management and controls and this will be reflected in areas such as capital requirements and supervisory intensity. Well controlled and managed firms that engage positively and openly with us should expect to experience real benefits from our more principles-based approach in the form of a regulatory dividend, for example relatively lower levels of regula tory capital, less frequent risk assessments, greater reliance on firms’ senior management or a less intensive risk mitigation programme.’ Finally, proponents of a more principles-based approach argue that it should lead to more efficient solutions to regulatory problems. This, however, depends on the system for the resolution of any such problems and could in fact be more or less efficient with a more principles-based approach, depending on how that system is designed and implemented. A major risk associated with a move to principles-based regulation is the lack of certainty or predictability. This is a risk that needs to be managed carefully in order to ensure that firms and individuals understand their obligations in the absence of specific rules as to how they should act. The FSA (2007a:12) acknowledges the need to address this risk and explains that ‘with a less prescriptive Handbook we are convinced that we must go further than we have been inclined to in the past in responding to firms’ queries. We will need to work with firms and the practitioner panels to find the right balance in achieving this.’ Accountability issues are, arguably, also more likely to arise in the absence of detailed rules. Wilson (2007) explains that the FSA approach to accountability and governance issues has always been principles-based, explaining that ‘we take a strong interest in how firms govern and organise their affairs because we take the view that if you get this right, much else follows. In doing this, our approach is generally to ask for explanations as to why the structure put in place offers the necessary challenge and level of control, and where such explanations are unconvincing, to seek change that achieves a better outcome.’ There may also be certain legal obstacles to a more principles-based approach to regulation. Obviously any regulatory body needs to remain within the law, and in the case of the UK FSA this includes, for example, EU law. It is important to recap at this stage that a move to more principles-based regulation does not mean the abolition of all detailed rules. Indeed the FSA (2007a:20) cites European legislation as one of the challenges or constraints that will remain as they move in the direction of a more principles-based system of regulation. Finally, and most pertinent to this review, is the increased risk of regulatory creep with a move to a more principles-based system of regulation. The BRTF (2004:11) identify two principal means through which a principles-based approach may lead to regulatory creep. The first of these is through a possible proliferation of guidance and overzealous enforcement. ‘High level goal-setting objectives may need further clarification. Goalsetting regulation can leave a vacuum that Government, regulators and industry will seek to fill with guidance. The guidance may stray beyond the original intention and/or it may be applied prescriptively by regulators and those being regulated.’ The second occurs if insufficient thought is given to how firms will demonstrate compliance with the principles, or if compliance staff lack adequate skills. ‘Regulators argue that it is their job to prove noncompliance and that there is no legal requirement for duty holders to demonstrate compli ance. However, compliance should not be a guessing game. Those being regulated do need to understand what is required of them in practice.’ Conclusion Clearly there are some advantages to Principles-based regulation of financial services, but there are also some risks. There will always be a place for rules in regulation, and the key to successful Principles-based regulation is to know when it is appropriate to rely on Principles, and when to specify detailed rules. Reliance on principles requires the provision of consistent advice to firms, and a commitment to ensure the regulator’s accountability mechanisms are not bypassed. These requirements in turn point to the need to ensure that compliance staff are sufficiently skilled and trained. The OECD (2005:4) highlights the need to pay ‘close attention to the institutional setting, with a view towards fostering accountability, transparency and trust’ in order to achieve high quality regulation. This is the case whether a more rules-based or a more principles-based approach is taken. As the BRTF (2004:14) points out, ‘[i]t is not only goal-setting regulation that can lead to regulatory creep. A lack of clarity about the scope of any type of regulation can lead to regulatory creep.’ A move to more principles-based regulation has the potential to presage a regulatory creep without a statutory grounding as well as the potential to allow regulators to keep pace with the financial services market. The aim of any such move must be to realise this latter potential whilst avoiding the former. Bibliography Better Regulation Task Force (2004) Avoiding Regulatory Creep. October 2004. London: Better Regulation Task Force. Cunningham, L. (2007) A Prescription to Retire the Rhetoric of â€Å"Principles-Based Systems† in Corporate Law, Securities Regulation and Accounting. Boston College Law School Legal Studies Research Paper Series, Research Paper 127, 13 March 2007. de Serres, A. et al. (2006) Regulation of Financial Systems and Economic Growth, OECD Economics Department Working Papers, No. 506. Paris: OECD Publishing. FSA (2007a) Principles-based regulation: Focusing on the outcomes that matter. April 2007. London: FSA. FSA (2007b) FSA Handbook, Release 065, May 2007 Hodgson, P. (2006) The Rise and Rise of the Regulatory State. The Political Quarterly 77(2) April-June 2006. pp247-254 Jones, C. (2004) ‘Regulatory Creep: Myths and Misunderstandings’, in Risk and Regulation, No 8 Winter 2004 p.6 OECD (2005) Designing independent and accountable regulatory authorities for high quality regulation. Proceedings of an Expert Meeting in London, United Kingdom, 10-11 January 2005. Paris: OECD. Wilson, S. (2007) Supervision in a Principles Based World. Speech given to the FSA Retail Firms Division Conference, London, 27 February 2007 (available from http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Communication/Speeches/2007/0227_sw.shtml)

Personal Responsibility of Macbeth in Spakespeares Macbeth :: essays research papers

Let me ask just one question, have you ever heard anyone say something, that deep down it is known that, that is not right? Of course, everyone has been in that circumstance. Just because someone ‘tells’ you to do something does not mean that the deed gets done, right? If someone ‘told’ me to murder a lot of people, I’m not going to do it. The same follows for Macbeth. In the novel Macbeth written by William Shakespeare the main character, Macbeth, is told that he will become King. The only logical way to become king (in his own mind) is to kill the existing one, King Duncan. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife, has no uncertainty at all, in fact she wants him to become king more than he does, and tells him to murder Duncan to obtain this position. As one can see Macbeth not only knows what he is doing, but he knows what he is doing is wrong. Macbeth was not an unintelligent individual. In fact before he was crowned king, he was the thane of Cawdor. The novel insinuates that Macbeth was having uncertainties, â€Å"and cursed thoughts.† (2.1.8) To paraphrase lightly, the novel states, when Macbeth arrives at Inverness, Lady Macbeth overrides all of her husbands’ objections, and persuades him to kill the king that night. Telling us that he knew what he was doing was wrong! All he needed was a little persuading. Not only does Macbeth kill the king, but he stabs him in his sleep, along with all his chamberlains’ men. Also we know that he is fully aware of his wrong- doing is he had supernatural portents, like a vision of a, â€Å"bloody dagger of the mind/ a false creation.† (2.1.38-39) Macbeth pre- meditated this murder, and all the ones to come. Every human is born with a subconscious thought process known as your common sense. Not to kill is one of them. Yes, killing took place a lot more in that era, but it does not make it right to do so, but Macbeth’s greed took precedence over all these peoples’ lives, in fact, when Macbeth speaks to himself he states that his life is that of a â€Å"fruitless crown,† (3.1.62) or having no heir to the throne. Macbeth not only killed the king and his chamberlain’s men, but also Banquo, Banquo’s son Fleance, Lady Macduff, all the Macduff children.

Hsm 230-Week 5 Assignment: Hhs Law Profile Paper

Health Insurance Portability 1 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Name University Class Professor Date Health Insurance Portability 2 The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was established in 1996 to protect the rights of individuals when receiving services from health organizations. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ensures privacy and confidentiality of individual’s health information. Health information could be protected on paper, oral communication, or electronically.If an individual’s privacy is violated in any way that individual has the option to file a complaint against the offending office. The Office for Civil Rights assists individuals with complaints by investigating them. If necessary the Office for Civil Rights will impose a fine for violating the Privacy Rule Provision. Criminal violations of this law are referred to the United States Department of Justice for investigation and action (Unite d States Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). The Privacy Rule imposes rules that healthcare workers must abide by to protect patient’s information. By doing this the Privacy Rule dictates how atient’s information could be handled in pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare industries. Patients have access to their medical records if copies are needed or if mistakes are found. There could be a monetary charge for copies but patients should receive copies within 30 days of the request. If a medical provider requires sharing of the patient’s information; this request must be approved by the patient in writing. This notice is usually provided by the healthcare organization to the patient upon their first visit. This notice allows the patient to appoint any person whom he or she wishes to have access to their medical files.A patient could amend or omit information at any time. Patients would sign or initial this document generated by the organization w hich was Health Insurance Portability 3 formatted per HIPAA guidelines. If the document is amended in any way the patient must be presented with the updated document and given the opportunity to review and sign it. The Privacy Rule imposes limits on how the information is shared. To provide the highest quality of care; this rule does not permit any medical staff that is directly working from the patient to share information with another staff that is working directly with the patient.This could include physicians, nurses, and other medical providers that treat the patient. If any other provider that is directly working with the patient requires the medical information the patient would need to sign a consent form. A form usually called â€Å"release of information† would be completed and would specify which information could be shared. By specifying which information could be shared is another way for the patient to protect their information. For example if a patient is apply ing for life insurance they could consent for the life insurance company to have access to their medical lab work.The patients file could include more extensive history such as mental illness or surgical history, but this information would not be shared. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability law affects day-to-day operations in many ways. The Privacy Rule ensures that various healthcare providers have policies and procedures as to different ways to protect a patient’s information. Different agencies such as health insurance organizations, pharmacies, and physicians have procedures as to how to protect information.These various healthcare workers have requirements that are flexible to permit different healthcare workers to implement them as necessary for their practice. Covered medical personnel could limit the use of information as required. In addition, healthcare organizations are Health Insurance Portability 4 required to take additional steps to maintain pat ient privacy and confidentiality. These steps include but are not limited to: written privacy procedures, employee training, and hiring a privacy officer (to oversee that a high level of care is provided).If a consumer feels that his or her privacy has been violated they have the right to file a complaint. This complaint can me submitted directly to the offending provider or can be submitted via mail, or electronically to the Office for Civil Rights. The Office of Civil Rights provides adequate space for the consumer to explain why he or she feels her information has been used without proper consent. A consumer may also receive information on how a complaint may be filed The Office of Civil Rights provides this chart of penalties that could be assesses:A large penalty may be assessed if found guilty up to $100. 00 per violation, up to $25,000 per year, for each requirement or prohibition violated. Criminal penalties apply for certain actions such as knowingly obtaining protected hea lth information in violation of the law. Criminal penalties can range up to $50,000 and one year in prison for certain offenses; up to $100,000 and up to five years in prison if the offenses are committed under false pretenses; and up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison if the offenses are committed with the intent to sell, transfer or se protected health information for commercial advantage, personal gain or malicious harm. (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was designed to provide a consistent amount of protection in the exchange of data for a patient. When the regulations were implemented it became obvious that there was much to do. There were many holes in the system Health Insurance Portability 5 when it came time to protect patient medical information.It was found that the security requirements would apply to all medical personnel. This legislation provided a system that protects everyoneà ¢â‚¬â„¢s rights. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also establish protection from discrimination based on the information in the records. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act serves to protect patient’s right by setting a standard of practice for ensuring the privacy of client’s information. A client may select whom he wishes to have access to his personal information by signing a waiver of consent.The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also would conduct an investigation of any claims of violation and â€Å"holds violators accountable† (HHS. Gov, 2008). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance impacts all departments that have interaction with a client’s personal information like medical staff, medical records, billing, etc. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability law is inconvenient at times but it is also necessary to protect our information from being used in a way that we do not wish.Health Insurance Portability 6 References Department of Health and Human Services (2008) What does HIPAA privacy rule do? Retrieved September 26, 2008, from http://www. hhs. gov/ Manning, S. S. (2003). Ethical leadership in human services: A multi-dimensional approach. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. United States department of health and human services. (2008). United States department of health and human services. Retrieved September 25, 2008, from Department of Health and Human Services: http://www. hhs. gov/ocr/hipaa/

Effect of publication to renaissance culture essays

Effect of publication to renaissance culture essays Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) once said, Knowledge and human power are synonymous. Perhaps most definitive of the span of time from 1450-1600 is the shift of human power, and the most significant aspect of development the expansion of the collective knowledge of the common people. The circulation of this knowledge brought huge cultural impacts and defines what today is embraced in concepts of reality. While the year 1492 is often linked with the birth of the modern world, it was forty years prior when the original dawn began. In the early to late Middle Ages, publication and text circulation was of purpose solely for the institution of the Church. Such publication took place in monasteries across Europe as an act of religious devotion. Creation would often take over a year, and was viewed as an art form in the presentation of spirituality and God, no two works alike. These manuscripts had little influence on the common society in Europe, and rather were unseen in the massive libraries of the monastery to which few had access. Originally, books were far too valuable to expand to the general public, thus there was no way to use these works for scholarship. The work of the monks did not expand beyond the world of the Church. The seclusion of text circulation to the Church aided to maintaining its continual position of power. It was only in the Church that a Bible could be viewed and only through words of the priest that it could be understood. At some point, there was a shift away from religious focus that facilitated itself in the developing universities. A new relationship with books was developing and new demands being created. Books focused on more secular subjects were available for copying, and while tedious and erroneous, this process allowed for a spreading and development of ideas that had not occurred since the days of the great ancient world. A new emphasis in acquiring knowledge outside of religio...