The Printed Book in Contemporary American Culture: Medium, Object, Metaphor – eBook

Description

The Printed Book in Contemporary American Culture, (PDF) delves into the evolving role of the printed book within today’s digital landscape, exploring its multifaceted cultural significance in a time dominated by digital media. This insightful collection examines how our interactions with books, along with our perceptions of their cultural value, have undergone profound transformations in response to the ongoing digital revolution affecting American media culture.

Situated at the intersection of diverse academic fields such as American studies, book studies, literary analysis, and media studies, the essays featured in this volume explore the dynamic interplay between the material formats of literature and cultural expression. The collection emphasizes how a detailed focus on the physical and medial characteristics of literary works enhances our understanding of cultural studies.

This interdisciplinary work investigates the changing dynamics among publishers, authors, and readers while engaging with a variety of book formats, including experimental literature, artists’ publications, bestselling novels, and zines. By presenting contemporary transatlantic dialogues about the historical and future significance of the printed book, this volume aims to enrich readers’ perspectives on the ongoing evolution of book culture.

Review

“What role does the printed book play in an era where reading experiences are increasingly diverse? The essays curated by Heike Schaefer and Alexander Starre skillfully examine the materiality of books within a complex media ecology, illustrating how today’s codex not only reflects but also influences a rapidly shifting economic and cultural context. As readers engage with these discussions, they are invited to contemplate how a practice of ‘medial close reading’ can forge new pathways and connections among various disciplines, including comparative literature, American studies, media studies, and book history.” (Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Director of Digital Humanities and Professor of English, Michigan State University, USA)

NOTE: This product includes the ebook, The Printed Book in Contemporary American Culture in PDF format. Please note that no access codes are provided.