2 The Book as Technology
What happens when we study the book as a technology?
Week Two Preview
In week two, you'll begin to think about what we mean when we describe the book as a technology. With the help of historian Nicole Howard, we will outline some of the main questions and paths of inquiry that we will follow throughout the course. As you read selections from Howard's text, and watch the video on The Book as Technology, start thinking about the questions and topics you want to explore as we begin our journey back in time, to the era before the invention of printing.
Video: The Book as Technology
(Length: 8 minutes)
You can think of this course as an extended inquiry into a single question: How does the medium and technology of the book shape the ways we read, write, and communicate? This video elaborates on this question and explains how it forms a starting point for our work in the class. The video introduces the Nicole Howard text and poses some questions you will explore further in the discussion forum for this week. (Downloadable transcript of the audio can be accessed below the video player.) ![]()
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Video: Books Before Printing(Length: 10 minutes)
This video gives you a head start on the reading for this week. In the video, I summarize Howard's chapter 1, adding some images and commentary, and highlight what I see as some of the main ideas that are important in the chapter. (Downloadable transcript of the audio can be accessed below the video player.) ![]()
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ReadingWe will begin reading the Nicole Howard text this week. The Book: The Life Story of a Technology offers a concise, accessible overview of the development of book-making technologies.
The video, The Book as Technology, will introduce the Howard text and help you get started with the reading and writing assignment for this week. Be sure to watch that video in tandem with the reading. For this week, read the following:
Pre-reading questions: As you read the Introduction and chapter one, think about these questions—which will help you prepare for Assignment 2.
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Assignment 2: Reading Response--Howard #1Assignment 2 Template (Google Docs file--must be logged in to UALR Gmail to access)
Overview and purposeNicole Howard introduces the idea of the book as technology and tells the story of the evolution of the modern book. Assignment 2 is designed to guide you through an initial reading of the first part of her book, and to spark your thinking about some of the key concepts that we will apply throughout the course. In your reading response, try to describe things that surprise or interest you about the story Howard tells. Moments of surprise, curiosity, or wonderment are often good starting places for research projects! To prepare
Your response should be written in complete sentences and developed paragraphs. Your writing style can be conversational, but it should be professional. You are writing for your classmates and your instructor. Your response should be about 500-750 words in length. You may include images or other media if you like. |