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Art and book : a commentary on artists' books

The thesis spans two volumes ... Volume two is an artist's book and although it is part of the project I have set myself, it is not being submitted with the theoretical component of the MA dissertation, but as part of the practical component.' -- Abstract. / Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis investigates the contemporary practice of book art, examining in particular
the manner in which it fits both into the tradition of the book and the tradition of art
making. The thesis spans two volumes. Volume One discusses the phenomenon of the
artist's book from three vantage points: the attempts to define it, the attempts to
catalogue it and the attempts to interpret it. Volume Two is an artist's book and
although it is part of the project I have set myself, it is not being submitted with the
theoretical component of the MA dissertation, but as part of the practical component.
(Briefly, one of the tasks it embarks upon is an examination of the phenomenon of
thesis writing, as understood and endeavoured by myself in the production of the first
volume - in this sense it is self-reflective. Another is an examination of some aspects
of my attempts to make examples of artist's books, which includes an investigation of
some of the recurrent themes and preoccupations of my work)
Volume One is set out in three chapters. The first chapter pursues a definition of book
art and the artist's book in order to draw some perimeters around the subject, and to
build a picture of its nature. In the course of doing this, the ideas of some book artists
and book art commentators are considered in an attempt to create a richer tapestry of
understanding.
In the next chapter some of the ways in which book art has been categorised are
discussed. This is in order to more finely delineate the nature and scope of book art. It
is also to bring some clarity to bear upon the different components and manifestations
of a vast and sometimes confusing oeuvre. I then suggest a system of classification of
my own which offers an adjacent model for investigating artists' books and the
endeavour of book art.
With the above model in place, I undertake a foray into the arena of interpretation.
Here I suggest the suitability of adopting certain methodologies of interpretation that
come from the field of contemporary literary studies in general, and the interpretation
of poetry in particular. I draw comparisons between the book artist and the poet, and
suggest that they occupy a similar territory of meaning making.
In the course of laying out my arguments in the three chapters, I refer extensively to
examples of artists' books in order to make particular points. Where I consider it apt, I
draw upon my book art as a source of example. In this way, I am able to weave into
the text some information and reflection about my own practice and concerns as a
book artist. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar word in die tesis ondersoek ingestel na die hedendaagse praktyk van die
boekkuns en in die besonder die wyse waarop dit aansluit by die tradisie van die boek
en die tradisie van die kuns. Die tesis beslaan twee volumes. Volume Een bespreek
die fenomeen van die kunstenaarsboek vanuit drie invalshoeke: pogings om dit te
definieer, pogings om dit te katalogisieer en pogings om dit te interpreteer. Volume
Twee is 'n kunstenaarsboek en, hoewel dit deel uitmaak van die projek wat ek
ondemeem het, word dit nie voorgele saam met die teoretiese komponent van die
MA- dissertasie nie maar as deel van die praktiese komponent. (Een van die take wat
dit ondemeem is, kortliks, 'n ondersoek van die fenomeen tesis-skryf soos ek dit met
die produksie van die eerste volume self verstaan en benader het - in die sin is dit
selfreflektief. 'n Ander taak is 'n ondersoek van sekere aspekte van my pogings om
kunstenaarsboeke te maak, insluitende 'n ondersoek na van die deurlopende temas en
preokupasies van my werk.)
Volume Een bestaan uit drie hoofstukke. Die eerste hoofstuk streef na 'n definisie van
die boekkuns en die kunstenaarsboek met die doel om die onderwerp nader te ornlyn
en 'n beeld daarvan op te bou. In die proses word die idees van 'n aantal
boekkunstenaars en boekkuns-kommentatore oorweeg in die poging om n ryker
begripstapisserie te weef.
In die daaropvolgende hoofstuk word van die wyses waarop die boekkuns
gekategoriseer is, bespreek, om die aard en rykwydte van die boekkuns nog nader te
omlyn. Dit work ook gedoen om lig te werp op die verskillende onderdele en
manifestasies van 'n omvangryke en soms verwarrende oeuvre. Ek stel vervolgens my
eie klassifiseringsisteem voor, wat 'n verdere model hied vir die ondersoek van
kunstenaarsboeke en die boekkunsbedryf.
Aan die hand van hierdie model betree ek dan die arena van interpretasie. Ek stel voor
dat sekere interpretasiemetodes ontleen aan die tydgenootlike literatuurwetenskap, en
spesifiek die interpreteer van poesie, oorweeg word. Ek vergelyk die boekkunstenaar met die digter en stel voor dat hulle op soortgelyke wyses met die skep van betekenis
omgaan.
In die loop van die uiteensetting van my argument in drie hoofstukke, verwys ek
ekstensief na voorbeelde van kunstenaarsboeke om spesifieke punte te maak. Waar ek
dit as gepas beskou, verwys ek, by wyse van illustrasie, na my eie boekkuns. Op
hierdie manier is dit vir my moontlik om inligting en besinning oor my eie praktyk en
pre-okkupasies as boekkunstenaar met die teks te verweef.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50684
Date03 1900
CreatorsEmslie, Anne
ContributorsDietrich, Keith, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts .
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format209 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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