In Adam and Barkers "New Model for the Study of the Book" they argue that Darnton's Communication Circuit focus's more on the people making the books then the books themselves. They said to revise the circuit the circuit should focus more on the book. So they believed the circuit should cancel the shipper and binder all together. Adam and Barkers believe the model should go in a continuous circuit of publishing, manufacturing, distribution, reception and survival because Darnton's circuit nodes are more of outside things influenced by the book.
I would like to focus on the connection of the printer and suppliers. Under Darnton's printer node compositors, pressmen, and warehousemen are starting to change. Our technology is going digital, through ipads, kindles, computers, etc. With these new technologies, like the kindle, we are losing the need for warehouse men, at least in the category of actually making the books. We are now using warehousemen to make things like kindles, where you can hold multiple books and purchase books via the kindle rather than having to go to a bookstore, choose between a hard copy and a paperback and prices. In our technology culture I wouldn't be surprised that if in several years they start doing textbooks this way for school children. This would cut off printers all together and the connection with suppliers.
The suppliers such as paper, ink, type and labor will not be needed. All that will be needed are electronic writings of the book. Paper will almost be non-existent, which I guess will be good for the environmental activists? I don't know, but I believe that this all will completely happened and has definitely started too. So once this does happen and our books become electronic completely, these nodes will be non-existent and the model will need to revised yet again.
This is shorter than usual...but I think I got my point across.
You were definitely on the way to something...and while true that we'll be saving paper and trees, what about the energy that goes into building electronic devices (and running them)? It's all swapping labor for labor, like you said, but the trick is determining the types of labor, costs, etc.
ReplyDeleteYou could argue that Darnton's circuit would stay the same, but you would replace the printers and shippers with websites and ISPs.
ReplyDeleteWow.. I wonder how long we will continue to need warehouse workers, and how long we we actually have physical books to deal with. You are right though, as we see these things disappear, we are losing our need for warehouses. I used to work in a library and know first hand that they are definitely not as necessary as they used to be.. The gate count (the count of how many people enter the library in one day), has ultimately been cut in half since technology has been on the rise, simply because people are using other means to get this material. If you ask me, suppliers and printers are on the way out.
ReplyDeleteYou're right! so many things have changed including the different types of labor. It makes me sad to think about the next generation only reading off of computers/kindles and never having any physical books..Hopefully it doesn't happen but at this point who knows what will happen! The book trade is changing quickly.
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