IMC 2012: Sessions
Session 1702: The Secret Lives of Books: Adaptation and Alteration in Medieval Manuscripts, III - Identifying Change in Groups of Books
Thursday 12 July 2012, 14.15-15.45
Sponsor: | St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies, University of St Andrews |
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Organisers: | Kathryn Gerry, Department of Art History, University of Kansas Kathryn M. Rudy, School of Art History, University of St Andrews |
Moderator/Chair: | Kathryn M. Rudy, School of Art History, University of St Andrews |
Paper 1702-a | From Quires to Commonplace Books: The Uses of Booklets in the Late Middle Ages (Language: English) Index terms: Language and Literature - French or Occitan, Language and Literature - Middle English, Manuscripts and Palaeography |
Paper 1702-b | The Sloane Group of Middle English Manuscripts (Language: English) Index terms: Manuscripts and Palaeography, Science |
Paper 1702-c | Punctuation Marks as 'Signs' of Use in Nicholas Love's Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ (Language: English) Index terms: Language and Literature - Middle English, Manuscripts and Palaeography |
Abstract | Medieval books were often intended to last for years, if not centuries. Although usually made for a single primary purpose and often constructed to suit the needs of a single moment in time, manuscripts could be put to new and varied uses over the course of their long lives, thereby departing from the uses intended by their first owners. Such changes in use could entail significant physical alterations to the books themselves, either in the form of adaptations that would better suit the book to its new role, or as the result of a new pattern of usage. The papers in these sessions will examine some of the ways in which books could continue to be functional in new contexts, with particular attention to physical manifestations of such changes in use. |