Publishing Journal ›› 2024, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (03): 110-.

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The Book as Material:The Historical Progression of Book Studies and the Materiality Turn

  

  1. School of Journalism and Communication, Yangzhou University;

    School of Journalism, Fudan University

  • Online:2024-06-18 Published:2024-06-20

Abstract: This paper starts from the study of the materiality of media, focuses on the study of books, retraces and summarizes the classical views of different schools of thought on books, the attention to materiality in the study of books has generally shown the stages from highlighting the material form of the text, to looking at the material form of the text and its significance, and then to paying attention to the materiality of the book. On this basis, it proposes possible paths for the current study of books to turn toward materiality :first, focusing on the physical properties of books and the materiality of their re-creation in publishing practices; second, placing books in “relations” and examine books as“ mediators”;third, to adopt a structuralist perspective and explore the relationship between book publishing or material technology and the progress of social civilization.

Key words: Media materialities Book studies Book materialities Book history Publishing

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