BMS331H1

The History of the Book: Elements of Bibliography and Print Culture

An exploration of the history of the book from ancient inscriptions to e-books. This course develops an awareness of the interplay between material object and conceptual categories in book history by focusing on significant episodes in the evolution of the book as a medium, such as the rise of the context and the introduction of print. This course also delves in the practices of bibliography, the features of typography, and the material details of the printing process, while also highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of book history from a global perspective. Typically, this course will involve in-person workshops and visits to print studios and rare books collections on campus.