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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. This project includes visits from guest experts and a one-day printing workshop.

Contact

madeline.zehnder@hu-berlin.de

Link to the course catalog

hier#mce_temp_url#