Are Books Still 'Different'? : Literature as Culture and Commodity in a Digital Age (Elements in Publishing and Book Culture)

Koegler, Caroline/ Norrick-Rühl, Corinna

Cambridge University Press（2023/02発売）

Cambridge University Press（2023/02発売）

• 製本 Paperback:紙装版/ペーパーバック版／ページ数 75 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9781108987127
• DDC分類 028.9

Full Description

The famous 1962 precedent at the Restrictive Practices Court of the United Kingdom, 'Books are different,' is still the reasoning behind many cultural policies around the world, building on longstanding assumptions surrounding 'the book'. As this suggests, the 'difference' of the book as a unique form of cultural (rather than economic) production has acquired a powerful status. But are books still different? In (somewhat provocatively) asking this question from a network-oriented and interdisciplinary perspective (book studies/literary studies), this Element inquires into the notion of 'difference' in relation to books. Challenging common notions of 'bibliodiversity,' it reconsiders the lack of diversity in the publishing industry. It also engages with the diversifying potentials of the digital literary sphere, offering a case study of Bernardine Evaristo's industry activities and activism, the Element concludes with thoughts on bookishness, affect and networked practice. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Contents

1. Introduction: (Re-)thinking 'Difference'; 2. What's the 'Difference'? 'Difference' as Discourse, Policy and Brand/ing; 3. Are Books Still Different? 'Difference' in a Digital Age; 4. Marketing 'Difference' in a Network of Networks: Bernardine Evaristo; 5. Conclusion: the book as affect and the novel as network.