Thesis
A multimodal frame for emblem studies
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101299
Abstract
The relatively small field of emblem studies deals with European emblem books, an early modern literary form which pairs image and text in a symbolic relationship, often in order to teach a moral or religious lesson. The field has long relied on early 20th century research which posits two main approaches to emblem theory, and though attempts have been made to update those approaches for a new generation of emblem scholars, recent research into multimodal theory elsewhere in the humanities offers emblem scholars a different approach to emblem books altogether. Viewing emblem books through the lens of four "strata" of multimodal communication outlined by Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen in Multimodal Discourse—discourse, design,
production, and distribution—this thesis will show how a social semiotic approach to emblems as multimodal projects represents a strong way forward for emblem studies in the 21st century. Such an approach is ideal due to its focus on the entire composing process and how it affects meaning in emblem books. Ultimately, this thesis argues that viewing emblem books in this way is mutually beneficial for both emblem studies and other multimodal scholarship.
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Details
- Title
- A multimodal frame for emblem studies
- Creators
- Richard Dean Snyder
- Contributors
- Todd Wayne Butler (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- English, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525057701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis