Class, culture and conflict in the Edwardian book inscription : a multimodal ethnohistorical approach
This study draws on theories and methodologies from the fields of multimodality, ethnography and book history studies to explore class conflict and social mobility in Edwardian Britain (1901-1914). Using a dataset of 2,998 book inscriptions, this work investigates the types of inscriptions present in books bought and exchanged in Edwardian Britain; the ways in which inscriptive practices varied according to location, gender, age, social class and occupation; the material and semiotic features of inscriptions; and their communicative and performative purposes. The findings reveal that inscriptive choices were primarily influenced by âclass-based affordancesâ that centred on the social status and wealth of book owners, as well as Edwardian social conventions and the specific, well-established norms of each inscription genre or sub-genre. For the working classes, inscriptions represented pride at owning a book for the first time, while the lower-middle classes primarily used inscriptions as symbolic gestures of social mobility to gain social capital and respect from peers. In contrast, the upper classes, who feared the collapse of hierarchical society, saw inscriptions as a way of advertising their wealth
O'Hagan, Lauren
P Philology. Linguistics
Class, culture and conflict in the Edwardian book inscription : a multimodal ethnohistorical approach. This study draws on theories and methodologies from the fields of multimodality, ethnography and book history studies to explore class conflict and social mobility in Edwardian Britain (1901-1914). Using a dataset of 2,998 book inscriptions, this work investigates the types of inscriptions present in books bought and exchanged in Edwardian Britain; the ways in which inscriptive practices varied according to location, gender, age, social class and occupation; the material and semiotic features of inscriptions; and their communicative and performative purposes. The findings reveal that inscriptive choices were primarily influenced by âclass-based affordancesâ that centred on the social status and wealth of book owners, as well as Edwardian social conventions and the specific, well-established norms of each inscription genre or sub-genre. For the working classes, inscriptions represented pride at owning a book for the first time, while the lower-middle classes primarily used inscriptions as symbolic gestures of social mobility to gain social capital and respect from peers. In contrast, the upper classes, who feared the collapse of hierarchical society, saw inscriptions as a way of advertising their wealth
class culture conflict edwardian book inscription multimodal ethnohistorical approach study_draw theory methodology field multimodality ethnography book history study_explore class conflict social_mobility edwardian_britain using dataset book inscription work investigates type inscription present book buy edwardian_britain way practice vary_accord location gender_age social_class occupation material semiotic feature inscription communicative performative purpose finding_reveal choice primarily influence class_based affordances centre social_status wealth book owner well edwardian social_convention specific well_established norm inscription genre sub genre work_class inscription represent pride own book first_time lower middle_class primarily use inscription symbolic gesture social_mobility gain social capital respect peer contrast upper_class fear collapse hierarchical society saw inscription way advertising wealth