Independence and Autonomy

Rhetorical Usage of Ambivalent Notions in the French Publishing Industry

Bibliographic Data

ID19081300
AuthorsStéphane Noël (0009-0007-3556-100X, corresponding author), Sophie Noël
TranslatorsKatharine Throssell (0009-0008-3016-001X)
Year2019
Volume4
Publication date2019-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBiens Symboliques / Symbolic Goods (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2490-9424 • E-ISSN: 2490-9424
PublisherOpenEdition (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4000/bssg.341
OpenAlexW2954388601
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited23

Claims of independence have been on the increase in spaces of symbolic production and in the publishing industry in particular. Many publishing houses and bookshops describe themselves as “independent” in a context in which economic rationalism is seen as a threat to their autonomy, as defined by the sociology of culture. This article aims to confront these two similar notions, one of which is used by actors themselves (independence) and the other in more scholarly spheres (autonomy). In so doing, we hope to shed light on what is at stake in the rhetorical usages and mobilizations of the theme of independence by two actors central to the book trade: publishers and booksellers. Our hypothesis is that the fact that actors of various size and importance all emphasize independence reflects a loss of autonomy in the sociological sense of the word, while constituting an effective weapon with which to defend their vulnerable positions. When economic constraints and competition between actors become more pressing, independence becomes a key symbolic resource at stake in the struggle for recognition, both internal and external

Art · Autonomy · Humanities · Literature · Political science · Publishing · Rhetorical question · Sociology · Cultural and Social Studies in Latin America · History · Latin American Literature Studies · Law · Literature and Culture Studies · Philosophy

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access