Postgraduate taught 

Book & Paper Conservation MPhil

Understanding Book and Paper: Materials, Making and Meaning HISTART5158

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
  • Credits: 30
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course provides students with an understanding of the processes involved in book manufacture, paper making, printing techniques, print identification, the history bookbinding, book terminology and an introduction to the Ligatus database. It equips them to identify and record the techniques found in books and on paper.

Timetable

1 x 1 hr seminar each week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

1 x 1 hr lecture each week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus

2 x 3.5 hr Practical class

1 x 3hr Demonstration 

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Technical Object Record (3500 words) 60%

A1 Poster (400 words plus images) - 30%

Treatise based on one book/paper construction technique and sample (300 words) - 10%

Main Assessment In: December

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Introduce the processes involved in forming books and paper

■ Introduce the main historic decorative and construction techniques

■ Relate these to their context and meaning (origins, development, use, etc.)

■ Enable the development of appropriate methodologies to record book and paper structures and decorative techniques

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify book and paper structures and decorative techniques using observation and research skills

■ Recognise the historical and geographical context of book and paper techniques

■ Demonstrate proficiency in one book and/or paper construction technique

■ Demonstrate proficiency in one book and/or paper decorative technique

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.