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A revolutionary multimodal communications technology: the Edwardian Picture Postcard

A revolutionary multimodal communications technology: the Edwardian Picture Postcard. Julia Gillen, Literacy Research Centre & Department of Linguistics and English Language Lancaster University. Conference for Teachers of A Level English Language 1 July 2011.

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A revolutionary multimodal communications technology: the Edwardian Picture Postcard

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  1. A revolutionary multimodal communications technology: the Edwardian Picture Postcard Julia Gillen, Literacy Research Centre & Department of Linguistics and English Language Lancaster University Conference for Teachers of A Level English Language 1 July 2011

  2. cf Kress (1998) ‘new communications landscape’ – contemporary digital revolution

  3. Significant postcard dates World's first postcard: 9th September 1869 Britain's first postcard: 1870; France: 1873 Pre-printed official cards 76 million in 15 months (UK) Write address only on one side

  4. First part-pictorial UK postcards: 1st September, 1894. 25% increase in cards posted (312,800,000)

  5. Vernacular writing Multimodality Links to today’s digital revolution A. Main collection of 2500 Edwardian Postcards B. 200 cards approx. 'Why haven't you written?‘ Great Britain and the USA. C. 100 earlier cards D. 1911 cards E. Digitised copies of other peoples' collections

  6. Dear Ethel you mean bounder not to write. Very sad occurrence in Brighton Saturday. You’ll be grieved to hear it. I stood on one (1) groine and my hat (4 ½ d (?)) blew off into the sea. I don’t believe I shall ever see it again. (Written above this text) Arthur arose at 6.a.m. this morning Very energetic isn’t he (written across the top of the card) mother arrived safely. We all met her.

  7. 6 billion cards 1902-1910 Vernacular literacy: "essentially…. not regulated by the formal rules and procedures of dominant social institutions and which [has] its origins in everyday life" (Barton and Hamilton, 2000).

  8. 10 June 1904 Miss J. S. Carmichael 2 The Hollies Fairfield Buxton Derbyshire What do you think of this & did you ever see ?? anything so silly? I feel quite indignant about it. Just try to imagine Athos dressed like that, it is impossible, & it never mentioned their having guns, did it? & Dumas ought to know, do write & tell me you think it is horrid Love Dora

  9. 17 March 1905 Miss J. Carmichael The Hollies Fairfield Buxton Derbyshire. 6 The Shrubbery Junction Road Bath Thank you so much for your note dear, it was thoughtful of you. I have been very (lonely), as you can imagine. Is your mother home yet? I feel really strange & lonely. Much love, hoping to see you soon Yours (afflely). (M). (Reid)

  10. 21 April 1905 Miss J. Carmichael. C/O Mrs. Laidlaw. Victoria Square Lockerbie Scotland. Dear Janet Thanks for P.P.C. You did not send your address. I am leaving Buxton next Thursday week. So may possibly see you. Best love, dearie M.S.R.

  11. The Edwardian Postcard and Twitter … if George is not coming today our George will come and fitch the peelinges and bring you a bit of pork so don’t get any meat rapidity of exchange of short, written communications that can make ingenious, even creative use of physical constraints

  12. Informality “Postcards [are] utterly destructive of style.” (George Sims, 1900). “The Picture Postcard carries rudeness to the fullest extremity.” (cited by Douglas, 1907). Public/private boundary anxieties

  13. James Douglas, London journalist, writing in 1907: 'When the archaeologists of the thirtieth century begin to excavate the ruins of London, they will fasten upon the Picture Postcards as the best guide to the spirit of the Edwardian era… Like all great inventions the Picture Postcard has wrought a silent revolution in our habits. It has secretly delivered us from the toil of letter-writing…" (quoted in Staff, 1979: 79).

  14. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/EVIIpc/ Julia Gillen j.gillen@lancaster.ac.uk www.twitter.com @eVIIpc

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