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Titre From Celestial Letters to 'Copylore' and 'Screenlore'
Auteur Jean-Loïc Le Quellec, David Motlow
Mir@bel Revue Réseaux (communication - technologie - société)
Numéro vol. 1, no 5, 1997
Page 32 pages
Résumé Le Quellec Jean-Loïc, Motlow David. From Celestial Letters to 'Copylore' and 'Screenlore'. In: Réseaux. The French journal of communication, volume 5, n°1, 1997. pp. 113-144.
Source : Éditeur (via Persée)
Résumé anglais Summary: The origins of chain letters, which are now circulated for ludic, humanitarian or profit motives, can be found in age-old religious traditions. This study of the genre shows how these letters became gradually secularized and identifies contemporary forms using such modern methods as fax machines, photocopiers and electronic mail. Thus the ancient 'celestial letters', which were still very much alive in the sixteenth century, became letters sent with the blessing of Saint Anthony, or of mere bishops and parish priests. As the letters became commonplace they also came to he seen as either a miraculous cure or a clever way to make money. With further secularization, wholly ludic chain letters appeared, and then bogus advertising photocopies claiming that recipients have won a fabulous prize - a 'gift from heaven'.
Source : Éditeur (via Persée)
Article en ligne https://www.persee.fr/doc/reso_0969-9864_1997_num_5_1_3325