Information Studies

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INSTG045 Publishing, Culture and Society

This module aims to provide students with a strong theoretical grasp of the fundamental nature of publishing in all its contexts: social, economic, business, political, cultural and historical. The module introduces various integrating frameworks that are applied throughout the programme.

Topics include: the world of publishing, its structure and key players; the history of the book since Gutenberg; the `Anglo-American’ model of publishing; publishing structures in other regions/cultures (France, Germany, Japan, China etc.); ethical and business issues in publishing; the broader context of publishing as a social, economic and political activity; the information economy; the role of books in history, society, economics and politics.

Assessment: Assessment by coursework only
Compulsory for: MA in Publishing
Optional for: This module will be available for short course students
Prerequisites: There are no formal prerequisites for this module, although some familiarity with the world of publishing is assumed
Taught by: Professor Iain Stevenson and visiting speakers
Further information for students currently taking this module