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Kommerzielle Bücherzerstörung als ökonomische Praxis und literarisches Motiv : Ein vergleichender Blick auf das vorindustrielle und digitale Zeitalter
Series
Kodex: Jahrbuch der Internationalen Buchwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft
ISBN
978-3-447-10025-0
Type
book section
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Spoerhase, Carlos
Editor(s)
Haug, Christine
Abstract (De)
Büchervernichtung gilt gemeinhin als Akt von Barbaren und Biblioklasten, Zensoren und Inquisitoren. Wer sich an ihr beteiligt, führt Krieg gegen die Zivilisation. Diese Sicht ist arg verzerrend. Seit mehreren hundert Jahren findet die gezielte Zerstörung von Büchern weniger an den Rändern als im Zentrum der Buchkultur statt. Bücher wurden und werden hauptsächlich von jenen Akteuren vernichtet, die sie zuvor hergestellt und vertrieben haben: den Verlegern und Buchhändlern. Während jedoch vor dem industriellen Zeitalter die kommerzielle Bücherzerstörung öffentlich sichtbar und literarisch thematisierbar war, wurde sie danach erfolgreich privatisiert und tabuisiert. Unser Aufsatz beleuchtet erstmals diese konträren Kulturen der kommerziellen Büchervernichtung und untersucht dabei sowohl die Ebene der literarischen Reflexion wie jene der verlegerischen Praxis.
The destruction of books is generally seen as an act perpetuated by barbarians and biblioclasts, censors and inquisitors. One who participates in it, wages war against civilisation. This view is as widespread as it is misleading. For centuries now, the intentional destruction of books has taken place not at the margins, but in the very centre of literary culture. Books were - and continue to be - blighted mainly by their commercial producers and distributors: printers, publishers and booksellers. However, the recognition of their destructive work has changed dramatically over time. While the disposal of books had been publicly acknowledged in both commercial practice and literary discourse before the Industrial Age, it has subsequently turned into a taboo and removed from the public sphere. Our article describes these contrasting cultures of commercial book destruction by analysing both their practical and literary dimensions, and their reflection through publishers and authors.
The destruction of books is generally seen as an act perpetuated by barbarians and biblioclasts, censors and inquisitors. One who participates in it, wages war against civilisation. This view is as widespread as it is misleading. For centuries now, the intentional destruction of books has taken place not at the margins, but in the very centre of literary culture. Books were - and continue to be - blighted mainly by their commercial producers and distributors: printers, publishers and booksellers. However, the recognition of their destructive work has changed dramatically over time. While the disposal of books had been publicly acknowledged in both commercial practice and literary discourse before the Industrial Age, it has subsequently turned into a taboo and removed from the public sphere. Our article describes these contrasting cultures of commercial book destruction by analysing both their practical and literary dimensions, and their reflection through publishers and authors.
Language
German
Keywords
Book Destruction
History of the Book
Authorship
Literary Market
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SHSS - Kulturen, Institutionen, Maerkte (KIM)
Refereed
No
Book title
Buchzerstörung und Buchvernichtung
Publisher
Harrassowitz
Publisher place
Wiesbaden
Number
3
Start page
1
End page
23
Pages
23
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
228442