The Edwardian Picture Postcard as a Communications Revolution: A Literacy Studies Perspective

This monograph explores the Edwardian picture postcard as a novel form of multimodal communication, revealing insights into the creativity, concerns, and lives of those who used it. It combines posthuman, multimodal, historic, and linguistic methodologies to analyze its communicative, sociolinguistic, and relational functions, particularly focusing on working-class women. The collection of 3,000 postcards provides a unique source of information about the era's social inequalities and rapid social change.

Format: Hardback
Length: 146 pages
Publication date: 13 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating monograph delves into the realm of Edwardian picture postcards, unveiling them as a groundbreaking form of multimodal communication that holds immense significance in understanding the creativity, concerns, and lives of those who embraced this almost instantaneous means of connection. In the early 1900s, the picture postcard emerged as a revolutionary medium, seamlessly merging concise messages with captivating images, utilizing cutting-edge technologies that had been unimaginable in the decades that followed, until the advent of the digital revolution. This book offers a fresh perspective on the historical and social context that shaped the emergence and popularity of Edwardian picture postcards, expanding the boundaries of Literacy Studies by employing a comprehensive blend of posthuman, multimodal, historical, and linguistic methodologies to conduct a profound analysis of the multifaceted communicative, sociolinguistic, and relational functions of these postcards.

Particular emphasis is placed on how the study of picture postcards can shed light on the lives and literacy practices of often overlooked sectors of society, such as working-class women. The Edwardian era in the United Kingdom was characterized by profound inequalities and rapid social transformations, and picture postcards perfectly encapsulated the vibrant spirit of the times.

By analyzing a unique, open-access, digitized collection of 3,000 picture postcards, this monograph provides valuable insights for researchers and postgraduate students in the fields of Literacy Studies, sociolinguistics, history of communications, and UK social history. It offers a rich tapestry of information, shedding light on the creative expressions, social interactions, and cultural nuances of the Edwardian era, while also contributing to our understanding of the evolving nature of communication and the diverse voices that shaped its history.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032198873