Companion Introduction Blog 3/5

Summarize

1. Simon Elliot and Jonathon Rose attempt to trace the history of the book. They believe that books make history, as they are the primary tools used to transmit ideas, record memories, create narratives, exercise power, and distribute wealth. However, they also believe that because books are shaped by economic, political, social, and cultural forces, they are also a product of history. Through their study, they hope to develop a more comparative history of the book, by surveying all historical periods, thus filling in any gaps.
2. According to Elliot and Rose, the term "book" covers virtually any piece of written or printed text that has been multiplied, distributed, or in some way made public. Because this term covers such a broad spectrum of texts, Elliot and Rose have created different ways in their approach of the history of the book. In the first approach, the authors introduce to the reader a number of techniques used to by book historians and specialist that range from many disciplines. The second approach offers a chronological survey of the forms and contents of books through different historical periods. However, their approach is different from most as they focus on texts outside of the West.
3. The third approach used by Elliot and Rose is "beyond the book." This approach looks at books that are less traditional and conventional. It takes a look at the development of periodicals and periodical publishing, and the emergence of new technology. The last approach deals with 'Issues.' This approach discusses the broader themes of books such as: the concept of literary property, the relationship between obscenity and censorship, and the nature and function of the library. The authors then conclude with what the book may look like in the future.

Comment

There is a common theme throughout the volume: the book has always been inextricably embedded in the material world. As a result,  Elliot and Rose posit that to the historian, the "book" always takes the embodied form. That is to say that the book becomes an object created out of certain materials and takes on a characteristic form. Because the materials used to create the book can influence the final product and even its meaning, embodiment has two contrary effects: it becomes fixed, and its distribution is limited depending on the historical period and region. 

Question 

Elliot and Rose say that a book always takes the embodied form. How could this be applied to something that is created digitally, without physical properties? Does it suffer the same contrary effects of becoming fixed and its distribution?