For my degree I have to make a GARP as a design appropriate form of a dissertation. It has the requirements of a 6000 to 8000 word essay with 20% of the mark based on presentation.
I began initially researching back in July on skulls throughout the world throughout history. Very non specific and muddled to begin with. However, as I was researching skulls through the summer I became interested in what was motivating these depictions of the skull. I found the common thread of the skull being used as a depiction of death and I really became interested in the different cultural attitudes towards death. This enabled me to narrow my essay down to the evolution of the cultural attitude towards death in England. When researching the English medieval depictions of skulls and death I found it bizarre and sometimes violent. I wanted to explore how the attitude towards death had evolved so much from then until today. I found it really interesting how the depictions of skulls through the different time periods really reflected the realities of the daily life of the time.
The writing went well because I picked something to research that I have been interested in for years so I knew I could stand to research and write about it for nearly a year. I forget the final word count (probably somewhere in the 7000's) but I was more interested in writing something good than filling up the word count. I really enjoyed making the physical book and I had enough forethought to allow myself enough time to do it properly. I intended to have printing on the cover but the book cloth didn't respond well to the paint. Solution: a neat little band for decoration which serves as a duel purpose to hold the book together.
As I allowed myself enough time I managed to put on a couple of little details which for me really finish off the book like the black headbands either side of the spine and the little black ribbon bookmark. I also tried reddening the edges of the pages which was the easiest yet most effective part of the whole process. I just got some red ink on a tissue and ran it quickly along the whole edge of the pages whilst holding it in a clamp. Just some small touches which I have never been able to try before.
Here is my GARP: Death and the Skull from Medieval till WWII.
It is perfect bound and hard cased.
All finished now. I am a little bit scared how I managed to make a real book. But this is also very exciting and opens up my mind to some new book making possibilities.
Now I am going to be making a lot more things instead of researching and writing. There are some super duper exciting ideas in the pipeline which I am very eager to be getting on with.
Therefore I must be ending this post here.
Love and Skulls and Fishes
Victoria
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