Publishing studies
the search for an elusive academic object
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15291/libellarium.v8i1.221Keywords:
publishing studies, book publishing, methodology, social sciencesAbstract
This paper questions the validity of the so-called “publishing studies” as an academic discipline, while trying to situate them within the field of social sciences and to contextualize their success. It argues that a more appropriate frame could be adopted to describe what people studying the transformations of book publishing do – or should do – both at a theoretical and methodological level.
The paper begins by providing an overview of the scholarly and academic context in France as far as book publishing is concerned, highlighting its genesis and current development. It goes on to underline the main pitfalls that such a sub-field as publishing studies is faced with, before making suggestions as to the bases for a stimulating analysis of publishing, making a case for an interdisciplinary approach nurtured by social sciences. The paper is based on a long-term field study on independent presses in France, together with a survey of literature on the subject.
Downloads
References
Benhamou, F. 2011. L'économie de la culture. Paris: La Découverte (7th ed.).
Bourdieu, P. 1996. The rules of art. Genesis and structure of the literary field. Stanford University Press.
Chartier, R. 1994. The order of books: readers, authors, and libraries in Europe between the 14th and 18th centuries. Stanford University Press.
Darnton, R. 1990. The kiss of Lamourette: reflections in cultural history. London: Faber and Faber.
Duval, J. 2013. "Retour sur l'évolution universitaire en France." Questions de communication 23: 211-230.
Feather, J., ed. 2011. Book publishing: critical concepts in media and cultural studies. London: Routledge.
Febvre, L., and H.-J. Martin. 1997. The coming of the book: the impact of print 1450-1800. London: Verso.
Karpik, L. 2010. Valuing the unique: The economics of singularities. Princeton University Press.
Mollier, J.-Y. 1988. L'Argent etles lettres: histoire du capitalisme d'édition, 1880-1920. Paris: Fayard.
Passeron, J.-C. 1991. Le raisonnement sociologique: un espace non poppérien de l'argumentation. Paris: Nathan.
Sapiro, G. 2014. The French writers' war 1940-1953. Duke University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1215/9780822395126
Winkin, Y. 2003. La communication n'est pas une marchandise, résister à l'agenda de Bologne. Bruxelles: Labor/Espace de Libertés.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
