Résumés
Abstract
There are currently more than 500 city-wide reading projects in the US, and dozens in Canada and the UK. Through creative and traditional programming, such as canoe treks and book discussion groups, producers often use the One Book, One City model to “create community” through a selected text. This essay argues that instances of coming together to share reading experiences can be considered literary cultural fields as the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu conceived them. Readers seek cultural capital by participating in events because participation in book culture is considered a commendable and valuable activity. However, in order to participate, one needs to already have a certain amount of cultural literacy and capital. The essay offers an analysis of readers’ articulations of why they do and do not participate in city-wide book programming to help us better understand the motivations, pleasures and obstacles of membership in ephemeral reading communities.
Résumé
Il existe actuellement plus de 500 projets de lecture « urbains » aux États-Unis, et des dizaines au Canada et au Royaume-Uni. Par l’entremise d’une programmation tantôt traditionnelle, tantôt novatrice, s’articulant autour, par exemple, de sorties en canoë ou de groupes de discussion, les organisateurs se basent souvent sur le principe « un livre, une ville » pour créer une communauté autour d’un texte choisi. Cet article soutient que de se réunir pour partager des expériences de lecture appartient au champ culturel tel que le conçoit Bourdieu. Les lecteurs chercheraient en effet à acquérir du capital culturel en participant à diverses activités, puisque le fait de s’intéresser à la culture du livre est valorisé. Toutefois, avant de prendre part à celles-ci, il faut déjà posséder un certain bagage littéraire et culturel. L’article analyse les raisons pour lesquelles les lecteurs participent ou ne participent pas aux activités évoquées, afin de mieux saisir l’attrait et les obstacles liés au fait d’adhérer à une communauté de lecteurs éphémère.
Parties annexes
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