Gilbert, JL;
(2020)
Form and/as mode of existence.
Romanic Review
, 111
(1)
pp. 27-47.
10.1215/00358118-8007950.
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Abstract
Part of a special number, “Category Crossings: Bruno Latour and Medieval Modes of Existence”. This essay focuses on two of the 'modes of existence' posited by Latour in his recent An Inquiry into Modes of Existence (AIME). The essay compares and contrasts the modes of REF and FIC with a famous digression reflecting on historiographical practice in William of Malmesbury’s Gesta regum Anglorum (1125 and after, Latin prose). I argue that AIME offers analytical rigour to medievalists’ discussions of the notorious overlap between ‘history’ and ‘fiction’ in this case (and by implication, in other cases); I also argue that William’s bold use of FIC to advance REF is in the spirit of AIME’s project, but goes further in trusting FIC than AIME is always willing to do. Thus, an instance of medieval historiography leads the way in overcoming a residual Modern suspicion of FIC. The essay also argues that, although AIME’s restriction of crossings to two modes is useful for defining each individual mode, in practice more than two are often found ‘plaited’. I make this argument through a discussion of the practice of using brackets to mark verse form and rhyme scheme in some medieval manuscripts: an example of the TEC.FIC.REF plaiting. Finally, I argue for a development of the multimodal possibilities of ‘form’, which AIME flags but does not pursue. I suggest that FOR might be another ‘mode of existence’ to add to the list.
Type: | Article |
---|---|
Title: | Form and/as mode of existence |
Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
DOI: | 10.1215/00358118-8007950 |
Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1215/00358118-8007950 |
Language: | English |
Keywords: | Bruno Latour, William of Malmesbury, Medieval manuscripts, Brackets, historiography, fiction, networks, modes of existence |
UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of Arts and Humanities UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > SELCS |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10053459 |
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