Colorado College's new thematic minor in The Book
Beginning in 2009-2010, Colorado College offers a thematic minor in The Book (the past, present, and future of the written word in its material form).
Here is the official text, passed at the Block 5 faculty meeting in February 2009 for inclusion in the 2009-2010 catalog:
Professor Carol Neel (adviser). Consideration of the past, present and future of the written word in its material form from the perspectives of the disciplines of Art, English, and History. Five units—one or more in at least three of the four constituent departments—chosen from among the following: AS 226 (Book and Book Structure); AS 313 (Special Studio Problems, when offered as Book Arts); AH200 (Topics, when offered with related focus); AH211 (Medieval Europe); AH 345 (Topics, when offered with related focus); HY105 (Civilization in the West, when offered as Cultures of the Book); HY 200 (Topics, when offered as History and Future of the Book); EN282 (Beginning Poetry Writing); EN286 (Topics in Creative Writing). The Integrative Experience: a project completed in internship either in Tutt Library’s Special Collections or at the Press at Colorado College, arranged in consultation with the minor adviser and the College’s Printer, the College’s Curator or the Curator of Special Collections.
(For general information on thematic minors at CC, click here. Don’t be alarmed that this minor isn’t listed yet — it will be there in the next update.)
HY105 was offered as Cultures of the Book in the 2008-09 school year. In the 2009-2010 school year, we offer instead the half-block course The History and Future of the Book, taught by Steve Lawson and Jessy Randall. Here is the course description:
HY200-The History and Future of the Book. Examines the development of technologies of the written word, from clay tablets and sheepskin scrolls to the manuscript codex, early printed book, modern printing, and digital text. Questions the way reading, writing, and preserving texts intersect with identity, memory, and history, making extensive use of primary materials in the library’s Special Collections and incorporating a hands-on experience at The Press at Colorado College. .5 unit-Lawson and Randall.
We expect to offer the FYE and the half-block in alternating years.
Some useful links:
Syllabus for Carol Neel’s Civilization in the West: Cultures of the Book, blocks 1-2, 2008
Tutt Library Chronicle article about Carol Neel’s 2008 FYE
Photos from Carol Neel’s 2008 FYE (slideshow above)
Photographs of books made by CC students, September 2007
The Press at Colorado College