The Printed Pages: From Victorian to VirtualBy Jane Carlin, Head of the Design, Architecture, Art & Planning Library, jane.carlin@uc.edu |
 UC’s outstanding collections on the history of the book and printing will be in full use this Winter Quarter as a new honors special topics class, “The Printed Page: From Victorian to Virtual,” is taught by Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) librarian Jane Carlin and associate professor of language and literature Barbara Wenner. This course combines the history of book production, design, formats, and printing, focusing mainly on the prolific and innovative period of book design in Victorian Britain and beyond.
The students in “The Printed Page” explore the interactions between text and image in such works as Goblin Market, Oliver Twist, and Salome, as well as examine the impact of the 19th-century Arts and Crafts Movement. The class combines visits to the Archives and Rare Books Library and University Libraries’ Conservation and Binding Department to see how books are restored, with student presentations and guest lecturers such as Kimberly Burleigh and Jane Alden of DAAP’s School of Art. Although much of the study is on Victorian and early 20th-century books, the course also examines book design and binding up to the present, particularly observing the ways in which the Internet has made many texts—and their repositories—virtually available. As part of the course, students observe how designs are used today and why we might choose a particular format and design, as well as different ways in which people express themselves. “Today, format and design consciousness have become much more available to the college student than ever before, both in their academic writing and other creative pursuits,” said Barbara Wenner. “By the conclusion of this course, our students will be much more cognizant of how the design they create can influence the interpretation of the content.” The course culminates with a study trip to England over Spring Break. Students will have the opportunity to visit the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum where they will be treated to a private viewing of many unique and rare publications. In addition, students will visit Kelmscott House, the London residence of William Morris; the St. Bride’s Printing Library to view special collections of paper, binding, typography and illustration; and meet with the Curator of 19th-century books at the British Library where they will receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the collection. Students will also spend a day in Oxford, visiting the University, the Oxford Union, the Bodelian Library, and Blenheim Palace. The class provides a unique opportunity to combine literature and art and focus on UC’s outstanding library collections. This class is made possible by the generous support of the Honors Program, Global Studies, Department of English, and University Libraries. |
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