Information, Medium & Society: Nineteenth International Conference on Publishing Studies

Abstract

The cover of the books today is very much different than the cover of the ’80s. Thirty years ago, when you look at a cover you could easily understand what the book was about, and likely to understand who it was for and what the author stood for if taking sides was necessary. Today you can buy a book in any language from your home. Some book covers are like design objects that speak for the whole variety of book readers globally. They may be great design objects, but this paper is asking questions about how globalization affects the publishing industry in terms of the book covers. Should a book cover be more than an award-winning graphic poster? Should it represent a view of the book? Is it ok if a Haruki Murakami book looks like a Dostoyevski book in any language anywhere around the world? The paper analyses new graphic design styles, content, and cover relationship and try to consider if they are obstacles for designing original covers and creating hybrid culture works. The paper also brings in censorship and e-book concepts in terms of how they change the book industry for global readers.