Final Entry

I have decided to post my final journal entry on the day that our assessment task is due. I wanted to do this to signify that it really is the final entry that I can do for this class. It makes me quite sad it a way, but I feel like I have really taken a lot away from this class over the semester. A lot of my previous conventions have been challenged in this class and I feel like I can walk away saying that I learnt a lot.

I still find the topic of “What is a Book” and “What is art” quite confusing because of how broad the definition is but I feel like I can adequately answer these two questions now and debate them thoroughly should the question arise in a conversation. A book can be a book, if it has the form and/or function of a book. Art can be defined by the qualities of what art actually is. Does it also have the form and function of Art? Does it inspire, inform, evoke emotion? Is there a story behind it??

I feel like I want to learn more about what a book is and what art is as well. I think these two aspects in particular at the two that I want to address most outside of this class. Also I want to look more into the debate on whether or not the Comic can be considered as art or is it just the horribly good hybrid of the book and sequential art??

I think the thing that I am going to miss the most in the class is the bookmaking interludes. I felt like these help me learn quite a bit about the processes that were undertaken in order to produce each book type. It has made me want to explore the ideas of bookmaking in even more depth and I found that bookmaking actually had an impact on one of my Graphic Design assessments. I actually made a book/catalogue and used my own self made type of binding to put it all together. But I feel like the bookmaking interludes gave me a far greater grasp on the practical side of the book.

So, this is the end. All the best!

Ciao.

Week 12 Books in the Digital Era

This week I started on the last topic, Books in the Digital Era. I feel going into this topic that I am a little sad that this semester is coming to a close. But I also feel like this last topic is going to be quite easy and fun considering that everyone in the class has an adept knowledge of computers and the internet, and has had experience with the Digital book.

Before I get too in depth with this topic I will first define what ‘Hypertext’ is:

Hypertext refers to a method of storing data through a computer program that allows a user to create and link fields of information at will and to retrieve the data nonsequentially.

Some of the issues that were addressed in this topic were quite fascinating. I look at the questions about the digital Artsits’ books and they really intrigue me. One in particular “should such works be regarded as art?” (in regards to digital artists’ books). I believe that if it has the form and/or the function of a book it should be considered a book. So, in fact the digital artists’ books can, and more often than not, are considered to be books even though they only exist as binary code in their simplest form.

There was an interesting question that we were asked to address for this topic in regards to the existence of the digital book. The question was “Will the physical book continue to exist into the future?” The answer that I gave for this question is as follows:

Even though the digital book is a growing epidemic, and that technology is far exceeding tradition there will still be people that will choose to both create and still read the traditional book. So yes they will still exist. However, they may become obsolete. To put it into an analogy. The physical book will become like the very first computer. It still exists however there are only few that still use it. We can not safely assume that the physical book would become extinct due to the vast history and impact that it has had. I think that the physical book has had too much of an impact on our lives in general to be taken over by the digital world.

This topic, although short was fun. Although I didn’t really gain much from it because I already know quite a bit of information about the digital era and digital books.

Week 11 Artist's Books

Still having a read over the second reading. I find myself not having enough time to even look at the study questions at the moment which is just appalling. I will definitely have to get into it when I get back to Wagga Wagga that’s for sure. For the time being I am content with reading what I have got. I think that I am taking up more knowledge by sitting down and reading through everything first before I look at the questions. Most would say it’s just procrastination but I just don’t agree at all!!
I have had a further look at some artist’s books that other classmates have posted up on the forum. I would have to say that my favorite is Georgia Russell because of her whacky stuff. I think her Lolita (2009) is my favorite out of her work. You can see an image of the work below.
I also had a look at some of Vladimir Kush’s work. I particular loved the book below. Utterly amazing what some people will do!!!

Week 10 Distractions

During this week I was unable to get much done at all due to rushing around like crazy after my family issues. Newcastle has been good but it has been a major distraction from my work. I had a skim over the study guide questions this week and I had a look at some different artists’ books. Also I defined what an artists’ book is. My definition was as follows:

The Artists’ Book is a book, whether digital or traditional that is a representation of an artistic view point through the use of imagery and/or text. It is a visual interpretation by an artist of what a book is actually supposed to be.

I also had a read over the two reading for this week. I found Drucker’s “The Century of Artists’ Books” to be quite riveting. I was immediately caught up in the reading from the first paragraph.

“It’s easy enough to state that an artist’s book is a book created as an original work of art, rather than a reproduction of pre-existing work. And also, that it is a book which integrates the formal means of its realization and production with its thematic or aesthetic issues. However this definition raises more questions than it answers.”

Drucker also addresses the idea of what a book actually is in this reading. I would like to quote it, because it reminds me of the first class that we had when we discussed “What is a book?” The subjects that were addressed by Drucker are very similar to the ones that we all brought up in class.

“Is a book restricted to codex form? Does it include scrolls? Tablets? Deck of cards? A block of wood with one end painted with a title, like a conventional spine? A walk-in space of oversized panels hinged together? A metaphysical concept, disembodied, but invoked in performance or ritual?”

I think that the Artist’s Book is more of a challenge to what a book actually is. It is the job of the artist, not only to just create a pretty picture, but to also challenge current ethical views, and also to challenge the traditional. So, yes an artist’s book represents the views and imagery that the Artist was trying to convey, but it is also a challenge on the very meaning of what a book actually is. I like this idea. I believe than anything traditional can be challenged. There is always something, not necessarily better, but different.

Week 9 Going Away For Two Weeks!!!

Well, I am going to be away for two week because my Uncle has had his leg amputated and I am needed in Newcastle in order to help out with some private family business. I will however be taking the work with me so that I can keep up to date. Will not be surprised if I fall behind though because I am going to be flat out, so I have tried to do a lot this week to make up for it. I have had a look at Topic 6 Artists’ books in depth however I find myself being quite a bit distracted at the moment because of how much stuff is going on at the moment. I had a look at the first few study activities and answered all of the questions. I looked in depth at the difference between livres d’artiste, fine printing and independent publishing. But first I want to talk about the artists’ book.
What is considered an artist’s book? I had a look at several of the definitions on the Art and Books website and I came to the conclusion that an artist’s book, in it’s most basic definition is a book that has been illustrated in some way by an artist to convey a certain aspect, idea, mood or concept. An artist’s book can be, but most often is not mass produced.
Traditionally, illustrators working for the printing trade developed black and white illustrations on paper and the design was translated by a master craftsman into a wood or metal engraving for reproduction. In contrast the illustrations on livres d’artiste are produced using original graphic processes, such as lithography, woodcut, linocut or etching, with the artist either working directly on the printing matrix or working in close collaboration with a master printer. The end result being a limited edition book that contained original illustrations and was intended for sale as a collectable object on the art market. \
I wanted to include these in my learning journal because I feel that I got a lot more of an understanding about what an Artists’ Book was through look at different ideas of what an Artists’ Book could and could not be.

An exhibit in an exhibition comprising a book that is bound up so it can not be opened?
I believe that this example can be considered to be an artist’s book because it represents all of the aspects of an artist’s book. It convey a certain concept, and fundamentally it is a book, and has book-like qualities. I’ll take this opportunity to refer back to topic 1 when we discussed what a book actually was and the idea of bookness was brought up. The exhibit represents the form of a book, and the function fundamentally however it just can not be opened.

Australian artist Imants Tillers creates composite works made up of individual panels. Many of these works contain images and text. When not exhibited on the wall these works are stacked on top of one another in sequential order.
I think that even though it is a sequential artwork, it is not to be classified as an artist’s book. One the panels are completely individual and two, just because the works, when not being exhibited, are stacked in sequential order does not mean that they can be considered a book. A stack of pages is not considered a book until it is bound. Again the form and function of a book need to be considered here. It does have the function of a book, with it’s imagery and text, however it does not employ the form of a book, with binding.

A portfolio of prints on the same topic presented in a box.
It could be argued that this can be an artist’s book because it has both the function and the form of a book. It has pages, which house the prints for a portfolio. Also it is represented in a box which can be considered a form of binding.

Well I better finish off for now. Need to start packing and get out of Wagga Wagga on the next train. Should be a wonderful train ride. I am enjoying this topic so far. It is something I have never really looked into before so I am getting quite a bit out of it. I was having a little trouble grasping what an Artists’ book was so I think that I am going to have more of a look into Artists’ Books before I post next.

Week 8 Key Examples

I had a look at the key examples for the Comics and Graphic Novels topic this week. The key examples for this topic were Art Speigelman’s Maus and Winsor mcCays ‘Little Nemo in Slumberland’ strips. Looking at these two very different but very similar comic styles many things were drawn to my attention that I really didn’t consider until now. One of the things we were asked to consider was that both of these examples were drawing by a single person. What sort of impact does this have on the finished form?

I believe that the fact that only a single person worked on both of the key examples means that there would have been a hint of personal emotions and ideals written into both the strip and the novel. Although this statement is quite apparent in Art speigelman’s Maus due to the fact that it is a biography about his father, there has to be some personal attachment in order to convey the right message across to the audience.

I didn’t enjoy this topic as much as I thought I would because I have done similar topics before in other classes and covered quite a lot of this stuff before. However I have to admit that Maus was definitely my favorite part of this topic. I feel like I have grasped on some new aspects of the comic and graphic novels. I would like to learn a little more about Winsor McCay and I would like to read the other two leading graphic novels.

Week 7 The Production of Comic Books

I had a look at the production of comic books during this week as well as had a look at Reading 8 and did a little bit of research on the Graphic Novel.

The method of production and reproduction was my main focus for this week. I had a look at the study activity questions and answered them to the best of my ability. I have a very strong opinion about the comic book and I believe that a more, how should I word this, a more desirable product is produced when there is a team of artists working on it. Although working individually is quite good for smaller comic projects, and more personal projects, the higher end comics need a large group to work fluidly in order to produce the desired product by the deadline. However there are some distinct disadvantages to working in a team environment. More often than not there is a ‘clash of the titans’ of sorts. There will always be a person, or minority of the team that disagrees with the proposal. This doesn’t occur when working individually. However, this can also be considered a disadvantage of working individually. There is nobody else to bounce ideas/concepts off in order to produce the most desirable effect.

I also had a look at a variety of different comics, ranging from personal and low key comics, such as Cyanide and Happiness, to older style comics such as X-Men and Wonder Woman. I also had a look at the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics so I could compare and contrast the techniques of production and how these can effect the visual appearance of the comic. Looking at the comic page below from Wonder Woman it is clear that is it a far later comic than that of the X-Men, because of the ‘poor’ quality of the imagery and the lack of clean cut lines. This, I believe, is largely related to printing and drawing styles.

Moving on the Graphic Novel now. A graphic novel is a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels. The three graphic novel titles that are considered to be important in the development of the graphic novel were Batman- The Dark Knight Returns, written by Frank Miller, Watchmen(1987) by Alan Moore and David Gibbons, and Maus by Art Spiegelman. The most memorable out of these three for me was Maus, which is used as a reference in my essay for this subject. It is a very touching and disturbing tale, the biography of the author’s father.

Although I enjoyed having a look at all of the different comic books and graphic novels I didn’t really feel like I could much out of this study activity. However, I did enjoy studying Maus and I enjoyed the brief study so much that I actually went out and hired the novel out to have a read of it. I was captured by it immediately and couldn’t put it down until I had finished it.