The power of books Part 1: Ex 2 The future of the book (research tasks)

"Given the current development of the book from printed to digital technologies, what do you see as the future of the book, for readers, and book designers? 

 I think with technology progressing a lot of books and such will be able to be accessed through the internet. However, I don’t think physical books will go out of existence, there is still a big need for real books, it is still a huge part of many lives, regular people who read, teachers, schools. One example is pop up books or interactive books are only experienced through touch; a physical book is a lot more interesting than a screen. I also think for students in education a physical copy is more reliable as technology isn't always available: scenarios like tests where technology isn't allowed. As for designers, artists ect... going digital is a lot easier quicker and sometimes more efficient especially as most of their traffic would be from online users if it's a magazine, e book, the new, article or document of some sort.

 Having a look on the internet I wanted to find others’ opinions, studies and maybe some statistics on the future of book. I came across a few different websites and articles. 

 Text below is from https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/discover/what-is-the-future-of-the-book-in-the-digital-age It is about how the demand for print is still high.

 'Despite concerns within the industry that with the rise of digital media the printed book would not be able to survive, it seems quite the opposite – with this exposing threat put upon it, the demand for printed books is still as strong as ever. 

 It seems however much our lives are dominated by electronic devices and resources with their greater accessibility and portability, the demand for print is still high. '

 https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/the-future-of-books 

 https://www.futureofeverything.io/future-books/   On this website are a few predictions and takes from some expert in the industry such as publishers, authors ect..

 So, while a lot of the articles and online sources predict e books and digital may over take printed physical books sales and popularity wise; books will always have a purpose and there is still a big demand for them. 

 I think personally even though I have never been a reader I think nothing beats a physical book, to turn each page, not have to rely on a charged device or the internet. People use books to escape the internet I don't think they should ever be replaced. Reading books is also lot healthy then staring at screens all the time. Sure, digital books are convenient but it doesn’t hold the same feeling of holding a physical book.

 RESEARCH: After reading Chapter 7:​ The Future of the Book​ from David Finkelstein and Alistair McCleery’s ​An Introduction to Book History​ (2005) I think the words are similar to other places I have researched and it articulates my thoughts a lot better on the future of book. Things such as educational uses and how the demand may be higher for e books, digital books but that is still a purpose of physical printed books. talked about below

 The latter concern with textbooks should also remind us that books are still the basic tools of education in developing as well as developed countries, perhaps more so. The evidence supports the case, contrary to intimations of their mortality, that books are being published in increasing numbers, both in terms of titles and print run, but that, in developed countries

Finkelstein, David, and Alistair Mccleery. Introduction to Book History, Taylor & Francis Group, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ucreative-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1092818.

 

I made a page of ideas and thoughts about where I think technology could influence physical books, words, phrases. Qr codes and scannable things on the pages in all books even kids and links too apps and games. I don’t think I’ve seen a book have its own music playlist idea though so I think that would be an interesting idea, maybe even allow the reader to make their own to match the book when reading it.

 

I don’t think overall though it would be good to ever replace books with digital versions because there’s no originality or as much effort to go into them, it may be easier to access but there’s nothing like having a book in your hand even the feel and smell of new pages gives you a different feeling then reading of a screen.

  

Research: Artist's books and fanzines

 Browsing through the American based Simthsonian Library for some artists books I found some really good ones that were my favourite.

 

 Record Gifts from our elders by Kerry McAleer-Keeler | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)

This is one of my favourites out of this list, I just love miniature replicas, scenes, detailed little pieces of art. It’s like its own little world in a box with all themed 3d parts. It’s so inviting to look at. I also love medical things and anatomy so it’s like a tiny memory box of a doctor or a kid’s toy.

 

 Record Dolls of Africa Freya Diamond | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)

 

I love the culture displayed in this one and the colour palette and patterns. The setup of it with the little string which I’m assuming keeps it all neatly together when it’s time to fold it away. I really like how her culture is being shown through art, colour, collage. I can tell it's a personal book.

  Record World without end by Julie Chen | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)

I think this one is one of the most creative, it’s such a original way to present a 'book'. It looks like it would spin, and the flaps of paper would widen and close. I even look the wooden part paired with the diamond as you would usually associate it attached to a globe. It’s a clean design and looks more like a statue/ figurine kept on a shelf then a book.

 Record Plinitude [M.L. Van Nice] | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)

I like all the different components of this one, there compartments, doors, materials like bones, feathers... and it’s shaped like a typical book but the pages have been altered and cut out so other things can be hidden inside or hang so its 3d.

  Record Patterns | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution (si.edu)

 

I like the simplicity and the texture of this one, the reddish pages look like a satisfying texture and roughness and the rips and uneven edges of the pages give it an urban feel. The box behind looks secure and when closed you would probably expect a perfect even book with full pages inside which I like. There is a washed-out patterns and prints.

Record A hypothetical analysis of the twinkle in stars (as told by a child to a teacher) | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution

Finally, this one to me is the sweetest. It’s so cute, the way the paper is folded as if it would make a bracelet and the star beads to go along with the small text and little pictures. You could see this design representing a child. There is an innocence about it I'd say although it isn’t the most complex it's another of my favourites.

Fanzines

 Fanzines are nonprofessional, often fan made publication of a 'magazine' dedicated to a certain theme, music, tv shower, person ect...They are created as a way of sharing things with people of similar interest.

Reading the material provided in this exercise reasearch task : Teal Trigg’s chapter ​Definitions and early days ​(pages 6–43) from her book ​Fanzines: A do-it-yourself revolution​ (2010) I found a few examples of fanzines that I liked the look of.

I love that there isn't much censorship in relation to boobs on the front cover and rebellious language. theres no filter like you'd see from a professionally manafactured magazine. There a rawness about them.

I like the vintage qualities of all of these I've picked. The black ink on coloured or old looking paper with the mixture of text and titles. Some parts handwritten/drawn, printed and collaged letters stuck on the page. These comic book style I really enjoy to its like taking you back to the classics and seeing it from another time.

I like the simple designs like this, cool and bold title, and a cool design. Seems a bit mysterious that there’s no information but a price.

other websites about fanzines: 

https://www.bl.uk/20th-century-literature/articles/fanzine-culture

https://louderthanwar.com/top-10-best-fanzines/