Textuality and Knowledge : Essays

In literary investigation all evidence is textual, dependent on preservation in material copies. Copies, however, are vulnerable to inadvertent and purposeful change. In this volume, Peter Shillingsburg explores the implications of this central concept of textual scholarship. Through thirteen essays, Shillingsburg argues that literary study depends on documents, the preservation of works, and textual replication, and he traces how this proposition affects understanding. He explains the consequences of textual knowledge (and ignorance) in teaching, reading, and research—and in the generous impulses behind the digitization of cultural documents. He also examines the ways in which facile assumptions about a text can lead one astray, discusses how differing international and cultural understandings of the importance of documents and their preservation shape both knowledge about and replication of works, and assesses the dissemination of information in the context of ethics and social justice. In bringing these wide-ranging pieces together, Shillingsburg reveals how and why meaning changes with each successive rendering of a work, the value in viewing each subsequent copy of a text as an original entity, and the relationship between textuality and knowledge. Featuring case studies throughout, this erudite collection distills decades of Shillingsburg’s thought on literary history and criticism and appraises the place of textual studies and scholarly editing today.

In literary investigation all evidence is textual, dependent onpreservation in material copies. Copies, however, are vulnerable toinadvertent and purposeful change. In this volume, PeterShillingsburg explores the implications of this central concept oftextual scholarship.

Through thirteen essays, Shillingsburg argues that literarystudy depends on documents, the preservation of works, and textualreplication, and he traces how this proposition affectsunderstanding. He explains the consequences of textual knowledge(and ignorance) in teaching, reading, and research-and in thegenerous impulses behind the digitization of cultural documents. Healso examines the ways in which facile assumptions about a text canlead one astray, discusses how differing international and culturalunderstandings of the importance of documents and theirpreservation shape both knowledge about and replication of works,and assesses the dissemination of information in the context ofethics and social justice. In bringing these wide-ranging piecestogether, Shillingsburg reveals how and why meaning changes witheach successive rendering of a work, the value in viewing eachsubsequent copy of a text as an original entity, and therelationship between textuality and knowledge.

Featuring case studies throughout, this erudite collectiondistills decades of Shillingsburg's thought on literary history andcriticism and appraises the place of textual studies and scholarlyediting today.

A Collection Of Essays Exploring The Role Of Textual Studies In Understanding And Editing Texts, And In Understanding The Historical Developments And Cultural Differences In Editorial And Archival Systems--provided By Publisher. The Evidence For Literary Knowledge -- Textual Criticism, The Humanities, And J.m. Coetzee -- The Semiotics Of Bibliography -- Some Functions Of Textual Criticism -- Responsibility For Textual Changes In Long-distance Revisions -- Text As Communication -- Revisiting Authorial Intentions -- How Literary Works Exist -- Convenient Scholarly Editions -- Scholarly Editing As A Cultural Enterprise -- Work And Text In Nonliterary Text-based Disciplines -- Publishers' Records And The History Of Book Production -- Cultural Heritage, Textuality, And Social Justice. Peter L. Shillingsburg. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "A collection of essays exploring the role of textual studies in understanding and editing texts, and in understanding the historical developments and cultural differences in editorial and archival systems"-- Résumé de l'éditeur