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Presented at FITC Toronto 2014 on April 27-29, 2014 More info at www.FITC.ca Our Once and Now Relationship with the Book with Pamela Hilborn The physical book is one of the most beloved formats in human culture. Join Pamela – a book-lover and a designer – and travel through history to understand how this format has evolved over time. Pamela will dig deep into the anthropology of the book, exploring our relationship to this once-sacred and rare object. She will also take a look at how new technology is helping to enhance the experience of reading as we move from analog to digital reading experiences.
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Our once and now relationship with
w the book w
boc w bocian w boek w buch w beech
The etymology references function
and physical material.
The Dead Sea Scrolls: National Geographic, Photograph by Baz Ratner, Reuters
Mesopotamian Tablet, circa 4000 BC at the British Museum. Source: news.au.com, Photo/Sang Tan, AP
The Dead Sea Scrolls: National Geographic, Photo/Baz Ratner, Reuters
Clay tablet with cuneiform letter and envelope, circa 1900 BC at the British Museum. Source: British Museum, britishmuseum.org
Codex: trunk of tree, block of wood
“A codex is composed of many books (librorum); a book is of one scroll (voluminis). It is called codex by way of metaphor from the trunks (caudex) of trees or vines, as if it were a wooden stock, because it contains in itself a multitude of books, as it were of branches…”
- Isidore of Seville, Etymologiae (VI.13)
w Margins w Footnotes w Illustration w Tables of contents w Bookmarks w Index w Thumb tabs w Edge color w Spine printing
advent of the codex moveable type scrolling desktop screens, ereaders, tablets
tablets, scrolls
3,000 BC 100 – 300 1370s - 1440 1990s
w 2D, linear w Fragile w Manual Production w Low portability w Limited re-use w Inefficient use of materials w Difficult to store w Scrolls: two handed usage
w 3D, non-linear w Durable w Manual Production w Highly Portable w Easily shared w Efficient use of materials w Easily stored: side-by-side, shelf w Single handed use
w Mass Production w 2D, non-linear w Format Wars w Mass Production w Highly Portable w Easily shared w Efficient use of materials w Mass storage w Single handed use
books as bodies: head, tail and spine
to crack the spine of a book...
to crack the spine of a book, to crave, to devour…
to judge a book by its cover…
bookshelves as a reflection of ourselves
books as nourishment: to crave, to devour...
books as art: writers, illustrators, typographers, designers
to crack the spine of a book, to crave, to devour…
books as memory: building patina, a living history
books as ideas: book burnings are symbolic acts of destruction, the annihilation of culture, the silencing of voices
the advent of digital
Kindle: “The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbours, kindle it at home, communicate it to others and it becomes the property of all.” - Voltaire
Nook: Comfortable place to read, some
conjecture as to “new book”; rhymes with Book
Kobo: Anagram of Book; the rearrangement
of the book as we know it, a fundamental shift, yet a nod to the historical
The etymology references function
and evolution.
from precious objects to disposable consumables penny dreadfuls - 19th century dime novels - 19th century pulp fiction - 20th century viral content - 21st century
What do we lose?
Tactility Sound & Smell Visual Appeal Haptic Perception Patina The Codex
to crack the spine of a book, to crave, to devour…
is our focus fading?
to crack the spine of a book, to crave, to devour…
the tyranny of replication
What do we gain?
Enriched Experiences New forms of Art New Ways of Storytelling Big Data More efficient learning Access + Storage
Thank You