Heather A. Haveman
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691164403
- eISBN:
- 9781400873883
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691164403.003.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Social Theory
This book explores the role that magazines played in the modernization of America, and particularly in the development of translocal communities, during the period 1741–1860. Drawing on original data ...
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This book explores the role that magazines played in the modernization of America, and particularly in the development of translocal communities, during the period 1741–1860. Drawing on original data obtained from 5,362 magazines published during this period, the book analyzes how the growing number and variety of magazines promoted and directed modern community building in America. It investigates the ways that magazines affected and were affected by key features of American society, including rapid population growth and urbanization; breakthroughs in printing and papermaking technologies; the rise of religious communities and social reform movements; the growth of educational institutions; and the emergence of scientific agriculture. This introduction reviews scholarship on modernization and community and explains how these concepts apply to America during the period. It also provides an overview of the chapters that follow.Less
This book explores the role that magazines played in the modernization of America, and particularly in the development of translocal communities, during the period 1741–1860. Drawing on original data obtained from 5,362 magazines published during this period, the book analyzes how the growing number and variety of magazines promoted and directed modern community building in America. It investigates the ways that magazines affected and were affected by key features of American society, including rapid population growth and urbanization; breakthroughs in printing and papermaking technologies; the rise of religious communities and social reform movements; the growth of educational institutions; and the emergence of scientific agriculture. This introduction reviews scholarship on modernization and community and explains how these concepts apply to America during the period. It also provides an overview of the chapters that follow.
Heather A. Haveman
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691164403
- eISBN:
- 9781400873883
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691164403.003.0005
- Subject:
- Sociology, Social Theory
This chapter examines the interplay between magazines and religion, with emphasis on how the growing number and variety of magazines supported and channeled community building in America—including ...
More
This chapter examines the interplay between magazines and religion, with emphasis on how the growing number and variety of magazines supported and channeled community building in America—including the translocal communities that were a big part of the modernization of American society. It first considers how American religion evolved during the period 1740–1860, citing in particular the rise of national religious organizations. It then explores the relationship between religious events and institutions, on the one hand, and religious magazines on the other. It also describes the fragmentation of American churches in disputes over theology and politics and concludes by explaining how the proliferation of religious magazines affected the rest of the magazine industry.Less
This chapter examines the interplay between magazines and religion, with emphasis on how the growing number and variety of magazines supported and channeled community building in America—including the translocal communities that were a big part of the modernization of American society. It first considers how American religion evolved during the period 1740–1860, citing in particular the rise of national religious organizations. It then explores the relationship between religious events and institutions, on the one hand, and religious magazines on the other. It also describes the fragmentation of American churches in disputes over theology and politics and concludes by explaining how the proliferation of religious magazines affected the rest of the magazine industry.
Heather A. Haveman
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- October 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780691164403
- eISBN:
- 9781400873883
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691164403.001.0001
- Subject:
- Sociology, Social Theory
From the colonial era to the onset of the Civil War, this book looks at how magazines and the individuals, organizations, and circumstances they connected ushered America into the modern age. How did ...
More
From the colonial era to the onset of the Civil War, this book looks at how magazines and the individuals, organizations, and circumstances they connected ushered America into the modern age. How did a magazine industry emerge in the United States, where there were once only amateur authors, clumsy technologies for production and distribution, and sparse reader demand? What legitimated magazines as they competed with other media, such as newspapers, books, and letters? And what role did magazines play in the integration or division of American society? From their first appearance in 1741, magazines brought together like-minded people, wherever they were located and whatever interests they shared. As America became socially differentiated, magazines engaged and empowered diverse communities of faith, purpose, and practice. Religious groups could distinguish themselves from others and demarcate their identities. Social reform movements could energize activists across the country to push for change. People in specialized occupations could meet and learn from one another to improve their practices. Magazines built translocal communities—collections of people with common interests who were geographically dispersed and could not easily meet face-to-face. By supporting communities that crossed various axes of social structure, magazines also fostered pluralistic integration. Looking at the important role that magazines had in mediating and sustaining critical debates and diverse groups of people, this book considers how these print publications helped construct a distinctly American society.Less
From the colonial era to the onset of the Civil War, this book looks at how magazines and the individuals, organizations, and circumstances they connected ushered America into the modern age. How did a magazine industry emerge in the United States, where there were once only amateur authors, clumsy technologies for production and distribution, and sparse reader demand? What legitimated magazines as they competed with other media, such as newspapers, books, and letters? And what role did magazines play in the integration or division of American society? From their first appearance in 1741, magazines brought together like-minded people, wherever they were located and whatever interests they shared. As America became socially differentiated, magazines engaged and empowered diverse communities of faith, purpose, and practice. Religious groups could distinguish themselves from others and demarcate their identities. Social reform movements could energize activists across the country to push for change. People in specialized occupations could meet and learn from one another to improve their practices. Magazines built translocal communities—collections of people with common interests who were geographically dispersed and could not easily meet face-to-face. By supporting communities that crossed various axes of social structure, magazines also fostered pluralistic integration. Looking at the important role that magazines had in mediating and sustaining critical debates and diverse groups of people, this book considers how these print publications helped construct a distinctly American society.
