In this full-year seminar, students will learn about the revived art of letterpress printing. Starting with a historical overview of the printing itself—from the development of movable type onwards—and its massive impact on society, this course will teach students about the importance of printing, the development of the book as technology, and their power, then and now, to shape humanity. Topics covered will include the development of movable type and of the printing press, the emergence of books as a form of knowledge transmission, and the way both have affected the way we live our lives. Students will have an opportunity to produce printed materials using 19th and 20th century printing presses. Examples and case studies will be drawn from a variety of different sociocultural contexts, media industries, and creative practices.
In this full-year seminar, students will learn about the revived art of letterpress printing. Starting with a historical overview of the printing itself—from the development of movable type onwards—and its massive impact on society, this course will teach students about the importance of printing, the development of the book as technology, and their power, then and now, to shape humanity. Topics covered will include the development of movable type and of the printing press, the emergence of books as a form of knowledge transmission, and the way both have affected the way we live our lives. Students will have an opportunity to produce printed materials using 19th and 20th century printing presses. Examples and case studies will be drawn from a variety of different sociocultural contexts, media industries, and creative practices.
