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  2. Artists Books: Materiality of Word and Image [VIS2545]

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Artists Books: Materiality of Word and Image

  • Unit Code

    VIS2545

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

The poet Stephane Mallarme wrote that `all earthly existence must ultimately be contained in a book.' This unit will investigate the diverse architectural qualities, shapes and characteristics of the book by examining case studies from history. The unit will also explore the history of visual poetry and its various international contemporary expressions. It will consider how word may be seen as image, how word invokes image and how image may invoke word - that is, the liminal and poetic space between image and word. It will also approach how to make our own books through many hands-on methods. In doing this we will individually and collectively create new forms in order to move towards an answer to that perplexing question - `What is a book?'

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse the role that the book may play in the spatial and temporal aesthetics of reading text and image or text as image.
  2. Critically examine case studies of the book as a cultural sign or object.
  3. Discuss and consider the context of the book and potential interpretations of the audience.
  4. Identify multiple characteristics and potentials of visual poetry.
  5. Identify various forms, potentials and definitions of artists' books made by artists, poets, writers and designers.
  6. Research, design and create a book using a range of mediums, materials and processes.

Unit Content

  1. Creation of original visual poetry.
  2. History and contemporary expressions of visual poetry.
  3. Making of books using some of the following methods: writing, drawing, cutting, painting, sculpting, tearing, designing, erasing, folding, collage, burning, gluing, stitching, typing and printing.
  4. Modern and contemporary history of artists' books.
  5. Relevant artists, poets and writers as well as forms and materials of artists' books.
  6. Technical and aesthetic judgments.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Demonstrations. Workshops and site visits.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
JournalResearch Project30%
Creative WorkCreative Project 130%
Creative WorkCreative Project 240%

Text References

  • Carson, A. (2010). Nox. New York: Penguin.
  • Wardell, M. (Ed.). (2009). Recycled library altered books. Mackay, Australia: Artspace.
  • Selenitsch, A. (2008). Australian artists books. Canberra, Australia: National Gallery of Australia.
  • Rothenber, J., and Joris, P. (Eds.). (1998). Poems for the millennium: The University of California book of modern and postmodern poetry. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Glasmeier, M. (1994). Die Bucher der Kunstler, Stugart. Edition Hansjorg Mayer.
  • Cowley, D., & Williamson, C. (2009). The world of the book. Melbourne, Australia: The State Library of Victoria and The Miegunyah Press.

Journal References

  • Rexer, L. (2009). James Castle Recombined. Jan ?Feb 2009. Art on Paper 50-58.
  • Imprint, Summer 2008. 43(4)

Website References

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

VIS2545|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Artists Books: Materiality of Word and Image

  • Unit Code

    VIS2545

  • Year

    2016

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

The poet Stephane Mallarme wrote that `all earthly existence must ultimately be contained in a book.' This unit will investigate the diverse architectural qualities, shapes and characteristics of the book by examining case studies from history. The unit will also explore the history of visual poetry and its various international contemporary expressions. It will consider how word may be seen as image, how word invokes image and how image may invoke word - that is, the liminal and poetic space between image and word. It will also approach how to make our own books through many hands-on methods. In doing this we will individually and collectively create new forms in order to move towards an answer to that perplexing question - `What is a book?'

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse the role that the book may play in the spatial and temporal aesthetics of reading text and image or text as image.
  2. Critically examine case studies of the book as a cultural sign or object.
  3. Discuss and consider the context of the book and potential interpretations of the audience.
  4. Identify multiple characteristics and potentials of visual poetry.
  5. Identify various forms, potentials and definitions of artists' books made by artists, poets, writers and designers.
  6. Research, design and create a book using a range of mediums, materials and processes.

Unit Content

  1. Creation of original visual poetry.
  2. History and contemporary expressions of visual poetry.
  3. Making of books using some of the following methods: writing, drawing, cutting, painting, sculpting, tearing, designing, erasing, folding, collage, burning, gluing, stitching, typing and printing.
  4. Modern and contemporary history of artists' books.
  5. Relevant artists, poets and writers as well as forms and materials of artists' books.
  6. Technical and aesthetic judgments.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures. Demonstrations. Workshops and site visits.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
JournalResearch Project30%
Creative WorkCreative Project 130%
Creative WorkCreative Project 240%

Text References

  • Carson, A. (2010). Nox. New York: Penguin.
  • Wardell, M. (Ed.). (2009). Recycled library altered books. Mackay, Australia: Artspace.
  • Selenitsch, A. (2008). Australian artists books. Canberra, Australia: National Gallery of Australia.
  • Rothenber, J., and Joris, P. (Eds.). (1998). Poems for the millennium: The University of California book of modern and postmodern poetry. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Glasmeier, M. (1994). Die Bucher der Kunstler, Stugart. Edition Hansjorg Mayer.
  • Cowley, D., & Williamson, C. (2009). The world of the book. Melbourne, Australia: The State Library of Victoria and The Miegunyah Press.

Journal References

  • Rexer, L. (2009). James Castle Recombined. Jan ?Feb 2009. Art on Paper 50-58.
  • Imprint, Summer 2008. 43(4)

Website References

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

VIS2545|1|2