Forms of individuality and literacy in the medieval and early modern periods / edited by Franz-Josef Arlinghaus.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Arlinghaus, Franz-Josef, 1960- editor.

Series:

Utrecht studies in medieval literacy ; 31.

Utrecht studies in medieval literacy ; 31

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Individuality in literature--Congresses.

Individuality in literature.

Literature, Medieval--History and criticism--Congresses.

Literature, Medieval.

Literacy--History--To 1500--Congresses.

Literacy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (viii, 317 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Turnhout, Belgium : Brepols, [2015]

Summary:

Through case studies of a broad variety of medieval and early modern sources, this volume discusses whether the roots of modern notions of individuality can be found in pre-modern Europe. "Individuality" is one of the central categories of modern society. Can the roots of modern individuality be found in pre-modern times? Or is our way of thinking about ourselves a very recent phenomenon? This book takes a theoretical approach to the problem, derived from Niklas Luhmann's system theory, in which different forms of individuality are linked to different structures of society in modern and pre-modern times. The papers in this volume approach this problem by discussing a broad variety of medieval and early modern sources, including charters and seals, letters, and naming-practices in a late medieval town. Self-representation is also considered, in "housebooks" and drawings. Textual studies include autobiography in German Humanism, and concepts of individuality and gender in late medieval literary texts.

Notes:

"Based on papers given at a conference in Bielefeld in 2009"--Preface.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

2-503-55289-7