Weekly Field Journal “Research Portfolio”
WEEKLY JOURNAL 2: October 08
Classical Literacy 700 BCE - 400 CE
- Variations of Literacy and the Alphabet
- The Function of Graphic Codes
- Models of Writing: Gestural and Constructed
- Writing at the End of the Classical Age
Medieval Letterforms and Book Formats 400 - 1450
- Medieval Culture and Graphic Communication
- Graphic Media and Contexts
- The Codex Book
- Letterforms, Manuscript Hands, and Pattern Books
- Graphic Forms of Knowledge
- Publishing Communities and Graphic Arts
In Module 3, we learned about proto writing systems, the eventual use in distinction of mark and interval, variation in shape, size, orientation, position, juxtification, sequence, hierarchy and direction of the Medieval period. Encoding of ideas with pictoral signs were used to represent concrete meaning. Symbolic power and control were used by the literate culture in the form of writing, in conjunction, but sometimes in place of brute force. This week’s examples are of, the “Greek Alphabet” *2, and Codex Leicester - Most expensive book ever sold *3.
The evolutionary foundations of communication, that started in Prehistoric 35,000 - 2700, continued with repeated reinvention of language & design, with better media, tools and pigments. Now, they were approaching more sophistication and order in their writing, taking into consideration a more unified approach to better communicating of their ideas and beliefs.
The first writings were little images, ideographs, pictograms and hieroglyphics. “From 1200 to 800 B.C. the Semitic-speaking Phoenicians lived and prospered on the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine, chief cities were Tyre and Sidon. They gained fame as sailors and traders, while they occupied a string of cities along the Mediterranean coast, in what is today Lebanon and Syria.
The Phoenicians were the first to develop a modern alphabet. The Greeks adapted the Phoenician alphabet and the Romans further adapted and improved it from the Greeks. This Roman alphabet is now used almost over the whole world today.” *2
The letters, text faces and contextural information were some of the most important events that happened in the Medieval period. Monasteries and courts were responsible for laying the foundation of what would be carried on from that early period thru now. As the world became more scholarly, mostly due to the church, but also the secular student, the need for a more efficient way of producing print became necessary, script needed to become the alphabet, something agreed upon and formal set as a standard. Also, was the need to replace the scroll with a form of ‘a book’ , the codex, having separate pages and a cover. Once the need for the codex, came the need for formatting and standard navigational practices in reproduction proficiency. The need for more information in the secular cultures really drove the flurry of innovations during this time, but the classical and theological literature was the beginning and sustenance of conventions for illustration and graphic form and all before the arrival of printing that will come in the Renaissance period.
Conclusion
This period was even more evolutionary than the prehistoric period, but with the foundation of the different culture’s early graphic forms for their basis in the continuing journey of graphic design through history, to today, and through tomorrow. With the Medieval periods’ progression of the alphabet and standards of layout in the codex, we have an even more powerful foundation to future graphic design. Encoding of ideas, representation of concrete meaning made everything even more powerful. Yes, the symbolic power and control of knowledge was used by the church, as well as the literate culture in the form of writing, brutality could know be not only physical, but also practiced with the control of knowledge. Finally, this weeks examples are of, one of, the “Greek Alphabet.” *2 and the Codex Leicester - most expensive book ever sold.*3 (Please refer to page 2.) (If you are viewing this document online please find the “Codex” pictures online at: http://www.bornrich.org/entry/codex-leicester-most-expensive-book-ever-sold/)
What “do you think the world’s most expensive book should look like? You might think of it with a diamond-studded cover or having gold plated page. But, it’s not like that.
The most expensive book ever sold is the Codex Leicester, which is a collection of largely scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci. The 72-page handwritten document is in the form of 18 sheets of paper, each folded in half and written on both sides. Leonardo wrote the book in Italian and used mirror writing, copious drawings and diagrams.
The Codex was bought by Bill Gates in 1994 for $30.8 million and given the name ‘Codex Leicester.’ The Codex is put on public display once a year in a different city around the world.” *3
WEEKLY JOURNAL 2: October 08
Classical Literacy 700 BCE - 400 CE
- Variations of Literacy and the Alphabet
- The Function of Graphic Codes
- Models of Writing: Gestural and Constructed
- Writing at the End of the Classical Age
Medieval Letterforms and Book Formats 400 - 1450
- Medieval Culture and Graphic Communication
- Graphic Media and Contexts
- The Codex Book
- Letterforms, Manuscript Hands, and Pattern Books
- Graphic Forms of Knowledge
- Publishing Communities and Graphic Arts
In Module 3, we learned about proto writing systems, the eventual use in distinction of mark and interval, variation in shape, size, orientation, position, juxtification, sequence, hierarchy and direction of the Medieval period. Encoding of ideas with pictoral signs were used to represent concrete meaning. Symbolic power and control were used by the literate culture in the form of writing, in conjunction, but sometimes in place of brute force. This week’s examples are of, the “Greek Alphabet” *2, and Codex Leicester - Most expensive book ever sold *3.
The evolutionary foundations of communication, that started in Prehistoric 35,000 - 2700, continued with repeated reinvention of language & design, with better media, tools and pigments. Now, they were approaching more sophistication and order in their writing, taking into consideration a more unified approach to better communicating of their ideas and beliefs.
The first writings were little images, ideographs, pictograms and hieroglyphics. “From 1200 to 800 B.C. the Semitic-speaking Phoenicians lived and prospered on the Mediterranean coast north of Palestine, chief cities were Tyre and Sidon. They gained fame as sailors and traders, while they occupied a string of cities along the Mediterranean coast, in what is today Lebanon and Syria.
The Phoenicians were the first to develop a modern alphabet. The Greeks adapted the Phoenician alphabet and the Romans further adapted and improved it from the Greeks. This Roman alphabet is now used almost over the whole world today.” *2
The letters, text faces and contextural information were some of the most important events that happened in the Medieval period. Monasteries and courts were responsible for laying the foundation of what would be carried on from that early period thru now. As the world became more scholarly, mostly due to the church, but also the secular student, the need for a more efficient way of producing print became necessary, script needed to become the alphabet, something agreed upon and formal set as a standard. Also, was the need to replace the scroll with a form of ‘a book’ , the codex, having separate pages and a cover. Once the need for the codex, came the need for formatting and standard navigational practices in reproduction proficiency. The need for more information in the secular cultures really drove the flurry of innovations during this time, but the classical and theological literature was the beginning and sustenance of conventions for illustration and graphic form and all before the arrival of printing that will come in the Renaissance period.
Conclusion
This period was even more evolutionary than the prehistoric period, but with the foundation of the different culture’s early graphic forms for their basis in the continuing journey of graphic design through history, to today, and through tomorrow. With the Medieval periods’ progression of the alphabet and standards of layout in the codex, we have an even more powerful foundation to future graphic design. Encoding of ideas, representation of concrete meaning made everything even more powerful. Yes, the symbolic power and control of knowledge was used by the church, as well as the literate culture in the form of writing, brutality could know be not only physical, but also practiced with the control of knowledge. Finally, this weeks examples are of, one of, the “Greek Alphabet.” *2 and the Codex Leicester - most expensive book ever sold.*3 (Please refer to page 2.) (If you are viewing this document online please find the “Codex” pictures online at: http://www.bornrich.org/entry/codex-leicester-most-expensive-book-ever-sold/)
What “do you think the world’s most expensive book should look like? You might think of it with a diamond-studded cover or having gold plated page. But, it’s not like that.
The most expensive book ever sold is the Codex Leicester, which is a collection of largely scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci. The 72-page handwritten document is in the form of 18 sheets of paper, each folded in half and written on both sides. Leonardo wrote the book in Italian and used mirror writing, copious drawings and diagrams.
The Codex was bought by Bill Gates in 1994 for $30.8 million and given the name ‘Codex Leicester.’ The Codex is put on public display once a year in a different city around the world.” *3
Bibliography
All information in quotes and including most everything written that is not marked otherwise is all credit of the authors of ‘Graphic Design History, A Critical Guide’ and Professor Kent Manske.
*2 http://home.cfl.rr.com/crossland/AncientCivilizations/Middle_East_Civilizations/Phoenicians/
phoenicians.html
*3 http://www.bornrich.org/entry/codex-leicester-most-expensive-book-ever-sold/
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