The symbolic value of the book and the destruction through war

S L AV K O H A R N I & A N I TA M A R I N

N AT I O N A L & U N I V E R S I T Y L I B R A R Y, Z A G R E B

Introduction

• What is the symbolic meaning/value of a book and can it motivate us to preserve books from the ravages of war?

• What is the cognitive and emotional impact of books on readers?

• Axiology (from Greek axios, "worthy"; and "logos", science), also called Theory Of Value, is the philosophical study of value of ethics, aesthetics, religion etc. We are using it here to address the psychological aspect of these values.

James Clifford Geertz (American cultural anthropologist): "Culture is a historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols -- in other words, it is a system of inherited concepts expressed in symbolic forms.”

Books & Culture

The symbolic value of the book is based on the fact that books are valuable cultural artifacts.

Contemporary anthropology views culture as network of symbols and meanings.

• The symbolic value of the text

• The symbolic value of the book as a physical artifact (and the physical expression of the text)

• Symbolism and motivation during war

Contents Contemporary philosophical and scientific discourse is strongly influenced by the theory of symbols & semiotics.

In our presentation we focus on three aspects of the book as a

symbol.

• The symbolism of artifacts is intensified during war.

• Vjekoslav Klaić:

A History Of Croats.

I. The symbolism of the content of the book

Semiotics (Pierce) Philosophy (Cassirer)

• Symbols are conventional signs. There are three types of signs: symbolic, iconic, and indexical.

• All words, syntaxes, books and other conventional signs are symbols. (Pierce)

• Every sign belongs to some symbolic form.

• The book Confessions by Aurelius Augustine is an example of symbolism in religion.

Symbol is a sign

• „The book is a medium and a depository of information, it describes and interprets ideas and entities from all areas of human existence and nature (literature, art, science) by using graphic symbols (writings, signs, images, pictures) in order to store, exchange and disseminate data.“ (Lexikon des Gesamten Buchwesen; Pflug, 1987)

Contextual interpretation of the book

• Ernst Cassirer's philosophy is fundamental for all symbolic theories

• Spirit can access the material world only through symbolic forms, therefore humans are symbolic beings (animal symbolicum), and culture is a universe of symbolic forms

Cassirer: Animal symbolicum

• Our perception of an entity can be expressed as a sign/symbol with a meaning, e. g. we give names to people in order to distinguish, recognize, and remember them.

• Since the first discovery of writing many millennia ago, the magnificent world of meaning that books bring to us is also based on the same model = giving names to individuals.

• Verba volant, scripta manent.

• According to Cassirer, the content of the book is a symbolic fact. By using symbols humans become *cultural beings*.

Name as an example and a paradigm

• There are books that study symbols

• Books contain graphic symbols

• Discourse is a complex symbolic entity organised in time and space through language as a symbolic form.

• Therefore, books are symbolic in their content.

Premise (1)

• A book is printed, non-periodical publication having 49 or more pages (UNESCO 1964)

• The book, as such, can be a symbol -- even a symbolic capital!

II. The book as a physical artifact

• The book Das Buch als soziales Symbol by Austrian sociologist Ingolf Erler is about the book as a physical entity, not about the content of the book.

• Erler views books as symbolic capital, similar to Veblen's theory of "conspicuous consumption" and Bourdieu's views on economic, political, cultural and symbolic capital.

• Basically, it is about understanding of the symbolic meaning of the book in sociology.

The book as a symbolic capital

• Bourdieu: Any capital can become symbolic capital (prestige, status).

• Symbolic capital influences the power balance in the society, and, according to Bordieu, it is not inferior to other forms of capital.

• The book is a cultural capital but it can become a symbolic capital. It can serve as a symbol of education, wisdom, knowledge, status.

Cultural capital - symbolic capital (Erler)

Books and political propaganda

Books were arranged on the fireplace for the press conference with the three American presidents after the tsunami in Indonesia 2004.

The books symbolise balance, determination, stability, education, advanced level of culture.

The books want to become political capital, based on symbolic and cultural capital.

• As cultural capital, books can become symbolic capital.

• The symbolic value can be demonstrated through book fairs and expos, interviews with authors and intellectuals, press conferences, advertisements etc

• Books can, regardless of their content, symbolise the divine power, dignity, social status, wisdom, learning, knowledge, reflection, contemplation etc

Premise (2)

Rafael, Vision of a Knight

In Scipio's dream, he is offered a sword as a symbol of knighthood, and a book as a symbol of contemplation.

• 1) a transcultural level; books have archetypal symbolic character because written language is older than seven millennia; motive is built into the unconscious

• 2) cultural level; books create cultural memory and provide cultural identity and integrity

• 3) social level; books track changes within society; they help promote tolerance

• 4) individual level; books signify cultural and social *belonging*; symblic competence is the harmony of knowledge and the acceptance of symbolic values

III. Motivation and symbolic competence

We examine various questions regarding motivation through the Richter's pattern of symbolic expression on:

• Values motivate us. A book has symbolic value that motivates us, triggers our emotions and readiness to act. This attitude towards symbols has such characteristic and represents mode of symbolic competence.

• Motivation is recognized herein as a simbolic

competance. „Competently mastering of life is obviously associated with high competence in dealing with symbolic forms“ (Max Fuchs).

A. Dürer, Vision of the Seven Candlesticks

From the Apocalypse

Christ as God (Alpha & Omega) is holding the book. He is the omnipotent lord of the Universe, almighty ruler (Pantocrator).

The book is a symbol of Christ's divine power and dignity.

• Motivation is relevant as a prerequisite in preserving books for posterity from all kinds of disasters and destruction, including war.

• Cultural destruction during war is usually a conflict of different systems of symbolic values.

• Symbolic competence is an important precondition in symbolically complex war environment.

• It is easier for a person to motivate itself for simbolic values.

Motivation

Motivation and symbolic competence have a preventive role in protecting and saving libraries from the ravages of war.

We don't have a definitive list of required skills for librarians in Croatia. Motivation is certainly one of those core capabilities.

We should include symbolic competence in the list, because of the symbolic usage of the book.

• Books have symbolic value, due to their intellectual content.

• Books, as physical objects, are also symbols.

• The symbolic value of books is a motivation to save them from the ravages of war.

• Motivation and symbolic competence are important prerequisites for libraries/librarians in preserving books during war destruction.

Conclusion

T h a n k y o u f o r y o u r a t t e n t i o n !