The Edited Collection

Abstract

Edited collections are widely supposed to contain lesser work than scholarly journals; to be incoherent as volumes, no more than the sum of their parts; and to be less visible to potential readers once published. It is also often taken as axiomatic that those who make decisions in relation to hiring, promotion, tenure, and funding do so agree. To publish in or edit an essay collection is thought to risk being penalised for the format before even a word is read. After examining the origins of this critique, this Element explores the modern history of the edited collection and the particular roles it has played. It examines each component part of the critique, showing that they are either largely unfounded or susceptible of solution. It proposes the edited collection as a model of one possible idea of scholarly community: collaboration, trust, and mutual obligation in pursuit of a wider good.

Revisiting the Concept of the Edited Collection: Bioinformational Philosophy and Postdigital Knowledge Ecologies

“…It proposes the edited collection as a model of one possible idea of scholarly community: collaboration, trust, and mutual obligation in pursuit of a wider good. (Webster 2020a).…”

“…Webster proposes a defence of the format of the edited collection, examining the elements of the critique to show that they are unfounded 'or (if they are of real substance) that they may be resolved' (Webster 2020b).…”

“…We think that Webster's defence and proposal that the edited collection is a scholarly model of community based on 'collaboration, trust, and mutual obligation in pursuit of a wider good' (Webster 2020a) is a theme and philosophy that reverberates with us. We would argue that there is a need to retheorize the form of the edited collection, as a scholarly format of academic publishing in the age of peer production, where collegiality, collaboration, and collective intelligence take on new value (Peters et al 2020a, b, c).…”

“…1. Consider Webster's (2020a) proposal that the edited collection is a scholarly model of community based on 'collaboration, trust, and mutual obligation in pursuit of a wider good'. 2.…”

Book review: Jane Vincent and Leslie Haddon (Eds.), Smartphone cultures

“…Yet the volume edited by Vincent and Haddon successfully offers a rich panorama of techno-cultural practices revolving around smartphones. If, as suggested by Peter Webster (2020), the key value of edited collections in the humanities and social sciences is the establishment of a scholarly community, then this cogent and cohesive volume is certainly set to become a useful and impactful resource in the years to come.…”