Twilight of the Literary : Figures of Thought in the Age of Print

In Western thought, the modern period signals a break with stagnant social formations, the advent of a new rationalism, and the emergence of a truly secular order, all in the context of an overarching globalization. In The Twilight of the Literary, Terry Cochran links these developments with the rise of the book as the dominant medium for recording, preserving, and disseminating thought. Consequently, his book explores the role that language plays in elaborating modern self-understanding. It delves into what Cochran calls the "figures of thought" that have been an essential component of modern consciousness in the age of print technology--and questions the relevance of this "print-bound" thinking in a world where print no longer dominates. Cochran begins by examining major efforts of the eighteenth century that proved decisive for modern conceptions of history, knowledge, and print. After tracing late medieval formulations of vernacular language that proved crucial to print, he analyzes the figures of thought in print culture as they proceed from the idea of the collective spirit (the "people"), an elaboration of modern history. Cochran reconsiders basic texts that, in his analysis, reveal the underpinnings of modernity's formation--from Dante and Machiavelli to Antonio Gramsci and Walter Benjamin. Moving from premodern models for collective language to competing theories of history, his work offers unprecedented insight into the means by which modern consciousness has come to know itself. (20011101)

In Western thought, the modern period signals a break with stagnant social formations, the advent of a new rationalism, and the emergence of a truly secular order, all in the context of an overarching globalization. In The Twilight of the Literary, Terry Cochran links these developments with the rise of the book as the dominant medium for recording, preserving, and disseminating thought. Consequently, his book explores the role that language plays in elaborating modern self-understanding. It delves into what Cochran calls the "figures of thought" that have been an essential component of modern consciousness in the age of print technology—and questions the relevance of this "print-bound" thinking in a world where print no longer dominates.

Cochran begins by examining major efforts of the eighteenth century that proved decisive for modern conceptions of history, knowledge, and print. After tracing late medieval formulations of vernacular language that proved crucial to print, he analyzes the figures of thought in print culture as they proceed from the idea of the collective spirit (the "people"), an elaboration of modern history. Cochran reconsiders basic texts that, in his analysis, reveal the underpinnings of modernity's formation—from Dante and Machiavelli to Antonio Gramsci and Walter Benjamin. Moving from premodern models for collective language to competing theories of history, his work offers unprecedented insight into the means by which modern consciousness has come to know itself.

Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Introduction......Page 12 I FOUNDING MATTERS......Page 42 1 Hegemony of the Vernacular......Page 44 2 Figural Economy of the Worldview......Page 67 3 Illusions of Unfolding Time......Page 88 II FROM EUROPE TO THE GLOBE......Page 112 4 The Epic Figure of Literary History......Page 114 5 Cosmopolitical Grounding of Literature......Page 146 III UNPLANNED OBSOLESCENCE......Page 176 6 The Use and Abuse of the Human......Page 178 7 Collective Culture of Print......Page 200 8 Reflections on the Force of the Figure......Page 238 Notes......Page 270 Index......Page 294 In Western thought, the modern period signals a break with stagnant social formations, the advent of rationalism, and the emergence of a secular order. In this text, Terry Cochran links these with the rise of the book as the dominant medium for recording, preserving, and disseminating thought. Terry Cochran. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 259-281) And Index.