What can we learn from studying books not just as texts but as physical
objects? From paperback Reclam editions of literary classics to Ada
Lovelace’s printed diagrams for calculating Bernoulli numbers, the
history of every academic subject is embedded in physical media. This
project invites BA and MA students in all disciplines to explore the
history of knowledge through hands-on examination of books shelved in
Humboldt University’s circulating library collection. Project
participants will discuss readings in book history and reconstruct the
“biography” of a particular library book, focusing on four research
areas: origins, audience, use, and reception. Over the course of the
semester, participants will examine the interplay between books as
artifacts and the cultural, material, and technological forces that
shape them. Participants will share their findings by constructing a
collaborative public exhibit.
- Kursverantwortliche/r: Madeline Zehnder