Introduction to Contemporary Print Culture: Books as Media

Description

Introduction to Contemporary Print Culture examines the role of the book in the modern world. It considers the book’s deeply intertwined relationships with other media through ownership structures, copyright and adaptation, the constantly shifting roles of authors, publishers and readers in the digital ecosystem and the merging of print and digital technologies in contemporary understandings of the book object. Divided into three parts, the book first introduces students to various theories and methods for understanding print culture, demonstrating how the study of the book has grown out of longstanding academic disciplines. The second part surveys key sectors of the contemporary book world – from independent and alternative publishers to editors, booksellers, readers and libraries – focusing on topical debates. In the final part, digital technologies take centre stage as eBook regimes and mass-digitisation projects are examined for what they reveal about information power and access in the twenty-first century. This book provides a fascinating and informative introduction for students of all levels in publishing studies, book history, literature and English, media, communication and cultural studies, cultural sociology, librarianship and archival studies and digital humanities. Cover Half Title Book Title Copyright Page Dedication Contents Figures Introduction: What is 'print culture'? Print culture studies' relationship to literary studies and media/communication studies The text/object distinction Harry Potter case-study Key issues in print culture studies Status of the book medium Materialisation/dematerialisation of book culture Changes to the book's life cycle Potential book futures Structure of this book Learning exercise Note Online resources References and further reading Part I Theories and methodologies for understanding print 1. Medium theory Defining 'medium theory' What is the medium of 'the book'? Effects of the book medium On writing and reading On society and culture On human consciousness Emergence and characteristics of medium theory Eurocentrism of medium theory? Conclusion: digital books' challenge to medium theory Learning exercise Notes Online resources References and further reading 2. Book history What is book history? Book history's disciplinary origins: revolt and synthesis History Literary studies Bibliography Book history models Key book history principles Drawbacks of book history Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading 3. Political economy Characteristics of political economy Book publishing stakeholders Structure of global book publishing How did this happen? Publishing's problematic economics Multinationals versus independents Book publishing as a media industry Implications of media convergence for books Pros and cons of the political economy approach Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading 4. Cultural policy How should the arts be funded? The fractured state of cultural policy about books Key levels of bookish cultural policymaking Local government initiatives State/provincial programmes The national frame 'International' cultural policy Conclusion: shortcomings of the creative industries approach Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading Part II Socio-cultural dimensions of books 5. Independent and alternative publishing Publishing and the 'marketplace of ideas' Ensuring diversity in the publishing ecosystem 'An ethos rather than a profit motive'5 - non-conglomerate publishing models Key challenges for small and micro publishers Zines: the independent's independent publishing Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading 6. Editing Was Raymond Carver actually 'Carveresque'? Varieties of editorial roles The historical ideal of the editor Editors' contemporary reality The author-editor relationship Literary agents Editing as a socio-political act Contextual factors affecting editing Language and expression 'Updating' classic works Conclusion Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading 7. Adaptation: Books beyond their covers Dissociation of book content from the codex format Adaptation studies: traditional and new approaches The rights-trading economy 'Reverse' book/screen adaptation Audiobooks - a.k.a. 'talking books' Conclusion: fan adaptations Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading 8. Book retailing Key phases in twentieth-century book retailing Book Wars I: independent bookshops versus chain superstores Independent bookshops Chain superstores The independents fight back Book Wars II: physical versus online retailing Conclusion Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading 9. Cultures of reading How to document the history of reading? Sources for a history of reading Reading as a contextually specific practice The significance of 'interpretive communities' Resistant reading practices Contemporary reading cultures Book clubs (US)/reading groups (UK) Mediated book clubs Writers' festivals Mass reading events Reasons for the public resurgence of reading Digital reading Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading 10. Libraries and archives Types of libraries Private libraries Public libraries Academic libraries Libraries and epistemology Politics of library classification systems Library digitisation debates Conclusion: contemporary libraries Learning exercises Notes Online resources References and further reading Part III Book futures 11. Digital books The 'future of the book' debate: four main positions Technophorics Book defenders Biblio-optimists Ambivalents Are publishers redundant? Publishers as rights archives Varieties of eBook innovation Digital-analogue book hybrids Blooks Mobile-phone novels Wikinovels, literary mash-ups and fanfiction Instapoets Conclusion Learning exercise Notes Online resources References and further reading 12. The dream of a universal library: Digitising knowledge The Great Library at Alexandria National copyright deposit libraries Library card-cataloguing systems Electronic catalogues The politics of book digitisation: Google Book Search The Battle over Books Public-sector digital library initiatives Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conclusion: the universal library as mirage Learning exercise Notes Online resources References and further reading Index