U6 Focus Questions Flashcards
What is book history?
Book history pays close attention to the social production of communication
How is book history related to bibliography, literary studies, and social history?
It studies how webs of communication shaped language, literature, and therefore communication as we know it
Following on the New Bibliography, what was different about McKenzie’s approach to the history of books, and how did this approach challenge orthodox notions of literary studies at Anglo-American universities?
He emphasized that physical production was dependent on the conditions in which it was produced which challenged orthodox notions because instead of looking at author’s intentions or past publishing trends, one should look for economic, social, aesthetic, and literary meaning. McKenzie’s approach to the history of books challenged the traditional boundaries of literary studies, fostering a more inclusive, material, and socially contextual understanding of literature and its production.
What is a communication circuit, and how might it be useful to a student of literature?
Circuit in which the book travels from author to publisher, printer, shipper, bookseller, and to the reader. This demonstrates how different key players influence each other.
What does McCann mean by the socialization of texts? Is this concept relevant to publishing and reading practices in the digital age?
Sean McCann argues that reading is not just a solitary activity but is shaped by social and cultural factors. He suggests that readers construct meaning through their interactions with others, including authors, other readers, and cultural institutions.
Digital technologies have allowed for new forms of socialization, such as online book clubs and author-reader interactions on social media. It has made it easier for diverse voices to be heard and for marginalized communities to tell their own stories.
According to Chartier, what is involved in the transition from text to reader?
It involves a shift in focus from the author and the text itself to how the text is interpreted and received by the reader. This shift involves recognizing that readers bring their own backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge to the reading process, shaping their understanding and interpretation of the text. Chartier argues that this shift is necessary to fully understand the impact and reception of a text.
How might the term mediation be used to avoid a functionalist approach to the history of books or new media?
Mediation can be used to avoid a functionalist approach to the history of books or new media by emphasizing the role of the medium or technology in shaping communication and cultural practices. A functionalist approach focuses on the uses of media as tools for specific functions, whereas a mediated approach recognizes that different media have unique characteristics and affordances that shape the way we perceive and interact with cultural forms.
For example, instead of simply looking at the functional uses of the printing press in the history of the book, a mediated approach would also consider how the materiality of the printed page, the ability to reproduce texts quickly and accurately, and the emergence of new forms of writing contributed to the development of new genres, audiences, and forms of cultural expression. Similarly, in the context of new media, a mediated approach would consider how the affordances of digital technologies such as interactivity, networked communication, and multimedia production have transformed the way we create, distribute, and consume media content.
Why are case studies central to the practice of book history?
They help scholars and researchers to closely examine the physical attributes and cultural contexts of individual books. By analyzing the materials, printing techniques, bindings, and other features of specific books, scholars can gain insights into historical trends and patterns in publishing, printing, and reading practices. Additionally, case studies can reveal the ways in which books have been produced, circulated, collected, and consumed in different cultural and historical contexts, shedding light on social, political, economic, and ideological forces that have shaped the book as a material object and cultural artifact.
What is the relationship between book history and effective semiotics?
Book history and effective semiotics are related in that both fields of study focus on the ways in which symbols and signs are used to convey meaning. Book history includes an analysis of the typography, illustrations, and other material elements of the book, as well as its reception by different audiences. Effective semiotics is concerned with how signs and symbols are used to communicate and convey meaning in various contexts, including language, images, and media.
In both fields, the focus is on understanding the ways in which communication occurs and how we can make that communication more effective.
