the kitschiest elements

My essay planning is still definitely in its infancy, but I’m interested in looking at the book as a cultural object, and how its importance as such influence the way we imagine the present and future of the book.

In “Modeling Functionality: From Codex to e-Book”—one of our first course readings—Johanna Drucker states that in many cases, ebooks have sought to replicate certain formal elements of traditional, material books without critically engaging with the functionality of these elements: “electronic presentations often mimic the kitschiest elements of book iconography” (166).  Drucker cites gutter and page drape as example of this iconography.

I’m interested in how many publishers are taking advantage of the same iconography in their production of material books. Often times these features serve little purpose beyond drawing the reader/consumer’s attention to the bookishness of the book. Of course design has always been a part of publishing, but recent trends seem to indicate an emphasis on more traditional formal elements—specifically those that serve no functional purpose.

Drucker suggests that the implementation of these elements in e-books might be a way to link them back to material books. I think that recent design decision seek to do the same thing: the deckle edges, the French flaps, book plates, and gilt are all ways to remind the reader that what they’re holding is a book, a real book!

I would like to discuss these formal elements in terms of how they represent our idea of the book, the importance of the book as a cultural object, and whether or not there is a difference in how and why these elements are used in digital or physical books.