The Matter of the Premodern Book
Marilynn Desmond
The Matter of the Premodern Book Marilynn R. Desmond Any comprehension a text is necessarily dependent on knowledge material forms it has taken. —Roger Chartier1 When medieval manuscript book emerged in early centuries common era, its properties and format afforded dynamic play between form content presentation textuality. From late antiquity through Middle Ages, technology handwritten codex enabled establishment expansion literate cultures. As technology, highly efficient textual preservation circulation, which made premodern central to institutions. an artifact, frequently exhibited aura well beyond use value. Medieval cultures are consequently imbued with reflections culture bookworlds created sustained by codex. Each essays collected this volume addresses some aspect materiality textuality world. These originated as papers delivered at large conference organized Center for Renaissance Studies Binghamton University, October 21–22, 2016, “Premodern Global Context: Materiality Visuality.” publication these peer-reviewed articles not intended provide record proceedings that but highlight two specific strands conversations generated event, specifically intersection bodies texts all their materialities, global impact technologies culture. [End Page 1] first four special issue explore how shapes elicits human embodiment. In “Maternity Spiritual Progression Dhuoda’s Liber manualis (840s CE),” Dana M. Polanichka examines composition richly encapsulates Carolingian understanding sensorial surrogate author. Written her young son William while he was held political hostage Charles Bald, manualis—literally handbook—was composed materially bridge geographical distance mother eliciting range filial responses maternal solicitations Dhuoda expresses Liber. Through stimulating son’s senses memory, parchment inscribed would offer nourishment effectively situate simultaneously spiritual embodied mother. Lisa C. Weston likewise explores literacy potential nourish “Honeyed Words Waxen Tablets: Aldhelm’s Bees Anglo-Saxon Literacy.” quotidian tool written composition, including letters, waxen tablet identifies apiculture—which produced both honey wax—as context explains frequent references sweetness monastic discussions friendship, literacy, virginity. domestication bees allowed foundations produce food writing surfaces exchange so sweet taste characterized “intimacy words exchanged from mouth mouth.” Like manualis, viscerally evoked somatic experience Ages. “The Pseudo-History: Textuality, Aurality, Visuality Arthurian Vulgate Cycle,” Joyce Coleman illustrated incorporate immateriality voice. analysis “iconography book” Cycle, she demonstrates role visuality voice authority prose narratives Cycle. This complex interplay voice, book, audience depends power images conflate temporalities narrative. “Textual Bodies Manuscript Matters: Case Turin 2] State Archives, MS J.b.IX.10,” Deborah McGrady traces presence manuscript. analyzes anthology French lyrics recorded bureaucratic community multiple hands modest unruled paper. humble, finds evidence group...
Mediaevalia