Summer Term

[alexiscartwheel]

Summer term started on Monday, so I'm back to school. I'm taking History of the Book, which is awesome so far. The professor told us it's a not a research class, it's a "look at the pretty books and see what they mean class," and that we'd have to try very hard to get a grade lower than A-.

For the next six weeks we're reading about books, playing with books in class, going on field trips to see really old books (next week we're headed to the rare books department at the National Library of Medicine!), and writing about books. Tonight we watched a video teaching us How to Operate a Book (hint: it's easier if the binding is "docile," or if you are wearing an ugly 80s sport coat) before finishing off with a discussion of typography and why comic sans sucks.

I'm also excited because now I have a completely legitimate reason to go to the Library of Congress. We have to compare a modern edition and a pre-1850 edition of the same book, and I want to use something already on my bookshelf. I found a copy of Evelina on campus, but it has icky library bindings, so it's off to LOC for a better one! I can go sit in the reading room and feel super smart. :)

Speaking of books and feeling smart, I've currently got a book check out from the Widener Library at Harvard. If I went there, they probably wouldn't let me in, but I can still borrow their books through ILL. Muahahaha!

Comments

[lilah-kelly.livejournal.com]

LOL @ "How to Operate a Book". I'll have to try the 80's sport coat, though. XD

Comic Sans...OMG how I loathe that font. And people use it like it's the only font that was ever invented. *pulls out hair*

lol Sorry, I'm a bit of a font freak.

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

And people use it like it's the only font that was ever invented.

I know, right? I mean maybe that was cool in like 1995...

One of my friends actually has a "Ban Comic Sans" bumper sticker, so I'm well versed in font freakiness.

[carrotgirl.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an awesome class!

[alexiscartwheel.livejournal.com]

It is! I'm so glad I decided to take this instead of management. (Which I still have to take anyway, but at least I'm not missing out on History of the Book.)