The Broadside Ballad and Textual Publics
Studies in English Literature 1500-19002011Vol. 51(1), pp. 1–19
Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2011 papers
Abstract
This essay investigates the role of the broadside ballad in creating early modern textual publics and the role they played in developing a culture of printed controversy in which all levels of society could participate. Through analysis of a broadside flyting involving Thomas Churchyard and Thomas Camel, I show that broadside ballads were particularly well-suited for encouraging participation in textual publics because they were cheap, widely distributed, and variedly consumed. Furthermore, I argue that broadside ballad controversies were crucial to opening a space for printed debate in England for controversies such as that surrounding the Marprelate tracts.
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