&lt;i&gt;Zwischen Pragmatik und Performanz: Dimensionen mittelalterlicher Schriftkultur&lt;/i&gt; ed. by Christoph Dartmann, Thomas Scharff, and Christoph Friedrich Weber (review)
Stephanie L. Hathaway
Reviewed by: Zwischen Pragmatik und Performanz: Dimensionen mittelalterlicher Schriftkultur ed. by Christoph Dartmann, Thomas Scharff, and Friedrich Weber Stephanie L. Hathaway Christoph, Weber, eds, (Utrecht Studies in Medieval Literacy, 18), Turnhout, Brepols, 2011; hardback; pp. viii, 489; 18 b/w illustrations, 1 line art; R.R.P. €90.00; ISBN 9782503541372. The seventieth birthday of history scholar Hagen Keller coincided with the presentation Münster 2007 some two-year-long research projects on interaction written symbolic communication medieval culture. This book is a compilation papers from this colloquium to [End Page 228] commemorate Keller's his impact field study. It includes several additions that were presented, encompassing history, legitimacy, political environment, cultural social symbolism Carolingian era later Middle Ages. Dartmann's Introduction does much frame scope sixteen articles cover many dimensions culture, as title describes, strictly practical. He poses example Mozart's operas, Cosi fan Tutti Le nozze di Figaro, illustrate long traditions literacy, power, control. A central theme these process influence recent work public ritual granting charters sovereign Ottonian Holy Roman Empire represented especially Gerd Althoff, Michael Jucker. sphere expanded chronologically encompass broader Ages, geographically France Saxon England. major accomplishment collection it itself both product continuation effect scholarship study namely practice culture communication. Although there are no sub-sections categorize papers, arranged chronologically, majority can be seen pertaining themes sessions. session volume François Bougard's article power acts, oaths, decrees Charles Bald, Berengar I, Hugh Provence. Bougard identifies motives for references between Byzantine sovereigns, makes case 'mise-en-situation' approach such documents. At end book, two more return focus France. Martin Kintzinger's treats initiative V fourteenth-century France, Petra Schulte's looks at tapestry V, Los Honores 1522, its implications text power. writing, memory tools furthers concept constructing gaining legitimacy landscape. framed Janet Nelson's article, 'Writing Power', convincing interdisciplinary how was constructed, manipulated, connected ideas. She draws together habits actions scribes charter witnesses Italy Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, considering propaganda campaigns, ecclesiastical rights property, forgery, context transmission laws charters. 229] Chris Wickham's twelfth-century justice compares modernizing influences reforms power-play papacy curia tenth twelfth centuries, challenging idea traditional institutions undermined foreign influences, posing an 'overarching metanarrative' legal documentation. Walter Pohl's examines forward-thinking chroniclers relation founding monastery Montecassino St Benedict word. Twelfth-century shown reconstruct monastery's past overlooking sacking Saracens in...
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