English 280 - Spring, 2023

Seminar in Research Practices

Class Information

Instructor: Stahmer, Carl
CRN: 62300
Time: M 3:10-6:00pm
Location: 362 Shields Library
Breadth: Earlier British
Focus: Method, Theory

Description

Materiality and Virtuality of Print: This seminar will investigate the relationship between physical and virtual modes of "printing" with a critical eye towards how these methods affect both author and readership. Part lab and part theoretical inquiry, over the course of the quarter we will engage in discussion of readings on print history from the inception of the printing press to 1800 and digital textual encoding and presentation from the 1950's to the present while at the same time learning to set type and print on an historical printing press and digitally encoding texts for electronic delivery. Seminar participants will gain a hands-on working knowledge of printing press technologies and of digital textual encoding as well as theoretical grounding in print history and digital textual encoding and presentation. Course readings will include, among others, selections from Eisenstein, Moxon, Fumerton, Watt, and Blaney, on the history of print, and McCann, Blanchette, Drucker, Kirschenbaum, and Blackwell on digital textuality, as well as a collection of technical manuals from both the analog and digital periods. All texts will be provided in digital form.

Grading

Letter Grade