Dynamics of Art History Publication: Introduction

Scholarly publication in art and architectural history can be mapped as a dynamic field of genres produced and consumed by different kinds of writers, publishers, buyers, and readers. The field is not stable and never has been, but, to most participants in our study, its current unpredictability appears pronounced because of a confluence of disciplinary growth, intellectual shifts, and a retrenchment in the publication of monographs. The uncertain shape of digital publications to come enhances this sense of insecurity. This part of our report describes and analyzes the current genres, participants, and trends affecting scholarly publication.