Writing as Material Practice: Substance, surface and medium

Reviewed by Benjamin Nickodemus, Part-Time Professor of Theology, Concordia University, Portland on 5/21/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This edited volume is a collection of 14 scholarly essays with an introduction and epilogue that are all around the central issue of writing as a material practice. Each essay is a distinct case study that explores this topic from different angles with different foci. The structure of these in depth academic essays means that it is not “global” in its discussion, but rather deep in several key discussions. However, while these case studies are limited by their topic selection to be studied, they should not be viewed as exceptional – the theory and technique of application of that theory of each study could be applied to different contexts if the reader so chose to do so. Therefore, this works as an introduction into the field of writing as material practice, but it does so inductively rather than expansively. While this might limit the use of this book as the sole textbook for a course due to a lack of complete breadth, the value is that it illustrates the depth of analysis necessary in this field. Because each case study is its own unit, there is no central index or glossary, but instead each essay functions as a near independent unit. There is, however, a very useful list of abstracts of each essay at the beginning of the study which carefully explains each essay in a concise form all in one section.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I found no obvious errors or major biases in the text. Of course, each academic essay does have an argument in it, they are very reasonable and measured arguments that seek to best explain and frame the data they are considering.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

These essays are of high quality and will be of value in their present form for some time due to the careful consideration of the primary source material upon which they are based. Because these are academic essays, they will be part of the field to be then built upon and used in new ways. Some of the secondary literature might become out of date, but only insofar as new major studies appear that by definition these essays could not address in 2013. Also, because these are articles, they are not as easily “updated” as a textbook chapter might while still maintaining the integrity of the argument, it would not be at all difficult to simply add an “addendum” at the end of them to discuss the articles’ reception and its shifting space in the world of scholarship.

Clarity rating: 5

These are academic essays written for those ready to dialogue with academic research. While I do not believe they are inaccessible, some of the essays might be difficult for a true novice. However, for anyone who is invested in the field even to a minor extent, the essays should be accessible. Each essay is written with a very specific context in mind and they do use some technical language. However, each term is defined carefully. Further, the primary discussion centers around primary texts and artifacts and the book is very good at having images and transcriptions of those artifacts and thereby bringing the reader into direct dialogue with the main elements of the book.

Consistency rating: 4

Because this is an edited volume, there is some variation in writing styles and topics; however, generally the central issue of writing as material practice consistently remained the primary focus of the book. Some terminology shifted simply because some case studies were covering such different cultural artefacts that context demanded said shifts.

Modularity rating: 5

This book is set up to be taken into sections. Because these 14 essays are independent pieces, each chapter can be taken and inserted n syllabi as one would need without a problem. The first footnote of each chapter, in fact, provides the citation one would need if you were to read it outside of the context of the whole book and thereby indicates some intent for these to be read independently.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

This book is structured roughly chronologically essay by essay. While one chapter is not dependent upon the last, there is a rough structure that does make sense. However, as pointed out above, the value is that these chapters are independent of each other and thus the connections from one chapter to the next are relatively minimal.

Interface rating: 5

This was very clear in both texts, images, and diagrams. The only thing that could be confusing was that the pagination of the .pdf was different from the official pagination of the book as the front matter did not count as “pages.” This is not a problem for a careful reader, but it could be confusing for some students who are citing too quickly.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I could not find any style or grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This book is a book about varieties in culture and backgrounds in a respectful academic tone which only celebrates and teaches respect to individual cultural traditions.

Comments

This is a very valuable book which I highly recommend.