Overview of Course

What exactly is a “book”? Is it the form or the content or the use that makes something a book? This course will first examine what generally defines a book, its typical parts, associated vocabulary, and use. We will learn historical precedence of both form and function in book making. Then we will explode standard “western” conceptions about books contrasted with what we find when we descend at ports of call along our voyage. The advantage of this ship experience is the unique chance to compare books and related visual concepts across a variety of cultures. We will compare and contrast similarities and differences and what accounts for these. Are books made the same way? Are they valued similarly in various cultures? How is written literacy and visual literacy related? Of important note is the studio-related emphasis in this course on the actual making of book related materials and samples as we go. As best as space and resources will allow on ship, by the end of the voyage students will each possess a portfolio of handmade and collected samples relating to the creation of their own book arts understanding.