Robert Darnton1 suggests that by the end of the nineteenth century ‘the world of reading had been transformed’. In his article ‘Was there a reading revolution’, Reinhard Wittman proposes a number of ways in which that transformation began in the eighteenth century (from intensive to extensive reading practices /the ‘reading mania’/ changing tastes in reading materials/rise of associational reading practices and institutions, etc.). Your task for this essay is to choose one topic statement from the suggested list below for exploring an aspect of this transformation. (chosen already for you) Note: the word ‘transformation’ suggests a change from a previous state/circumstance. TOPIC: By the end of the nineteenth century reading had been transformed, with ‘the expansion of the reading public’2 and the democratization of reading in terms of class, gender and age. Discuss. MUST USE LYONS READING This is a ‘snapshot’ research task, and you are limited by a short word limit, but you are expected to be able to illustrate and evidence your argument with some reference to actual reader experience. You are also expected to be able to interpret the question/statement for yourself. You must support your discussion (taking a position on the statement, and supporting that with an argument) with reference to the reading for the module/s relevant to your topic – (Wittmann’s reading) Summary criteria: 1) ENGAGEMENT with the learning resources (unit readings) relevant to your chosen question/topic 2) RESEARCH CAPACITY: Effective use primary sources 3) Quality of written EXPRESSION (spelling, grammar, syntax, words used in correct context) 4) REFERENCING (page numbers provided for all quotes. Proper references provided. Reference list at the end Please note that: • The Literacy Minimum Standards Level 2/3 apply, and you will automatically fail if you do not meet the minimum • This is a Turnitin assignment. Absolutely no plagiarism! Please do not even think about cutting and pasting material without proper citation and use of quote marks Need to be in own words! 1 R. Darnton (1990) ‘First Steps Toward a History of Reading’, The kiss of Lamourette: reflections in cultural history. New York: W.W. Norton, p. 161. 2 M. Lyon (1999) ‘New Readers in the Nineteenth Century’, in Cavallo, G., Chartier, R. and Cochrane, L. A history of reading in the West. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. Available at URL: http://www.library.illinois.edu/spx/readcult/Blog/Lyons.pdf (quote from pp. 313-314). Wittmann, R. ‘Was there a Reading Revolution at the End of the Eighteenth Century?, in Cavallo, G., Chartier, R. and Cochrane, L. 199. A History of reading in the West. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, pp. 284-312.
