U7 Focus Questions Flashcards
How is a history of human communication dating back to 3500BC relevant to literary theory and criticism and/or the study of literature?
It provides the historical and cultural context for the development and evolution of literature. For example, the invention of the printing press in the 15th century made literature more accessible to the masses, which in turn impacted the way that literature was written and consumed.
The study of human communication can help us to better understand the various literary movements and styles that emerged throughout history.
Finkelstein and McCleery describe how processes of change, evolution, and integration make the history of writing, reading, and textual production. What do they mean by this?
It means that the authors discuss how changes in technology, society, and culture have influenced the way people write, read, and produce texts. Essentially, they are arguing that the history of writing, reading, and textual production cannot be understood in isolation from larger historical and cultural processes.
Does the shift from orality to the dominance of print communications tell us anything about recent and ongoing changes in human communication?
With the rise of digital technologies and the internet, we are seeing another significant shift in communication practices and technologies. Overall, the shift from orality to print to digital communications highlights how communication practices are deeply embedded in culture, technology, and social change.
Hows does book history cast new light on traditional accounts of literary history and social transformation?
Rather than viewing literature as the product of lone geniuses, book historians seek to explore the complex web of relationships and networks that underpin literary production and reception.
Book history also enables us to better understand the broader social and cultural contexts that give rise to literary works. By exploring the diverse social and cultural contexts that shape literary production and reception, book historians are able to cast new light on traditional accounts of literary history and social transformation.
Various approaches to literary theory emphasize understanding the text as a text. How does the history of print and reading challenge this understanding?
It challenges the traditional approaches because it views texts as reflections of history. Therefore, the text is not a text, it is a piece of history that tells readers about social, economic, and political beliefs at the time it was written or printed
How does the advent of print further inform Leith’s social history of English?
Leith looked at oral language and how that shapes our language today, therefore looking at print history allows us to examine how that shaped our printing and reading habits today. With the increased availability of printed materials, literacy rates rose and access to information became more widespread. This led to the emergence of a literate middle class.
The availability of printed materials also allowed for the standardisation of the English language. As books and pamphlets circulated widely, they became a source of authority for correct grammar and spelling. This helped to establish a common form of English that was understood and accepted by the wider population.
“The Practical Impact of Writing” is reprinted from a multi-volume work called A History of Private Life. What is the significance of titles of the excerpt and the original work with respect to the emphasis and impact of Chartier’s approach to book history?
Chartier’s approach included the idea that there is a transaction/triangle between text, book, and reader and that there are transactions between all three. Therefore, when he explains the process of individualized/silent reading in this work, he is explaining how transactions changed from public to private sectors.
McKenzie writes: “The book, in all its forms, enters history only as evidence of human behaviour, and it remains active only in the service of human needs.” What is the significance of this statement, and its emphasis on agency in particular, with respect to the Treaty of Waitangi, the practice of book history, and/or the understanding of human communication past and present?
McKenzie’s statement highlights the idea that books, as cultural artifacts, are created and used by humans as part of their daily lives. The emphasis on agency suggests that human behavior and need are the driving forces behind the creation and use of books, rather than books being passive objects that people simply consume or collect.
In the context of the Treaty of Waitangi, McKenzie’s statement highlights the importance of understanding the social and cultural factors that led to the creation and dissemination of important documents such as the Treaty. It suggests that the Treaty should not be viewed as a static object, but rather as evidence of the social and political dynamics that were at play at the time of its creation.
It suggests that communication technologies, from books to social media, are not neutral tools, but rather are shaped by the social and political contexts in which they are used. Understanding the agency behind the creation and use of these technologies is essential for understanding their impact on society and for designing communication strategies that are effective and ethical.
Chartier’s and McKenzie’s descriptions of the historical shift from orality to literacy are practical and specific in different ways. How is this important with respect to methodology in the humanities and social sciences?
They are important for methodology in the humanities and social sciences because they provide different perspectives on the role of writing and text in shaping knowledge, culture, and society.
Chartier’s approach highlights the importance of studying the social, political, and cultural contexts in which texts are produced, circulated, and consumed, and the ways in which they shape and reflect the values, beliefs, and practices of their time.
McKenzie’s approach emphasizes the importance of understanding the materiality of texts, their physical form and format, and the ways in which they are produced, distributed, and stored.
Overall, both Chartier’s and McKenzie’s approaches provide important insights into the complexities of textual and cultural analysis, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary and multi-methodological approaches that take into account both the social and material aspects of texts and their contexts. This has important implications for methodology in the humanities and social sciences, as it encourages scholars to engage with a range of analytical tools and perspectives in order to better understand the roles that writing and text play in shaping human experience and society.
