After totally inconspicuously judging it by its cover, most people purposely pick up a book to partake in the phenomenal (in all senses of the word) act of reading. Seemingly mundane, reading actually requires significant mental as well as physical exertion; not only does the reader have to scan the page, understand the collection of characters upon it, and decipher meaning, but the reader also has to feel the book and flip the pages. Although this digital exhibit has no physical form, feel free to lovingly stroke the screen you are experiencing this through and imagine the weight and the texture of the items within the exhibit as well as the abstract weight of scholarship that led you here.
[you are free to do so now or within any point of our journey]
The history of the book, so fundamentally informed by and dependent upon the dissemination and storage of knowledge, calls upon book artists to explore the ideas of reading, translation, and language in their works. Breaking down language barriers or subverting language entirely have been popular themes, especially as of late. Increasing globalization invigorates the desire for a universal language while the rapid transition of media from print to digital directs language towards imagery. If a picture speaks one thousand words, how many does an icon convey, or an emoji? The concept of a universal language excites us and promises to expand our world, but how effective would it be? Conversely, how do unreadable texts fit into the conversation? Can you read an unreadable text?
In order to explore these ideas more thoroughly, follow the pathways below:
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