Making Books: The Renaissance and Today

A large book, placed on a Plexiglas stand, lies open to a page containing elaborate type.

One of the rare editions of the Gutenberg Bible, printed in the 1450s. It was the first major book printed using mass-produced moveable type. (Image courtesy of Amy Allcock on flickr. License CC BY.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

21H.343J / CC.120J

As Taught In

Spring 2016

Level

Undergraduate

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Course Description

Course Features

Educator Features

Course Description

This course explores the impact of new technology on the recording and distribution of words and images at three different times: The invention of the printing press ca. 1450; the adaptation of electricity to communication technology in the 19th century (telegraph, telephone, phonograph); and the emergence of digital media today. Assignments include essays and online projects. Students also participate in the design and construction of a hand-set printing press.

This course is also part of the Concourse program at MIT.

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Related Content

Anne McCants, Jeffrey Ravel, and Ken Stone. 21H.343J Making Books: The Renaissance and Today. Spring 2016. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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