The Book as a Cultural Object: Exploring the Symbolism of Artist's Books
Graduation Date
Fall 2005
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Program Name
Humanities
First Reader
Leslie Ross, PhD
Second Reader
James Mullane, PhD
Abstract
Contemporary artists books developed as part of the Conceptual art movement of the 1960s and 1970s. This is a complex, intellectual art form, and in many instances these works of art do not necessarily resemble a traditional book. Artists use the cultural symbolism associated with reading, writing, and printed material to make works of art in various formats. These can be sculptures, or installations, or even performance pieces. The genre also includes works that do resemble traditional books. In this instance, artists are exploring how the interaction of text, image, typography, and design interact to effect the meaning of a book. This thesis explores the history of the book to see how the symbolic meanings associated with religion, politics, immortality and power developed, and how artists combine the history of the book with contemporary social issues to make works of art.