Unit 1 (W1): Methods of cataloguinggggg

Chosen set: English Crime and Execution Broadsides 

Available at:

https://curiosity.lib.harvard.edu/crime-broadsides?utm_source=library.harvard

WEEK 1: EXPLORATIONS

1. Execution, execution, execution

Looking at all the execution broadsides (only a small collection here), I was very intrigued to see the word “execution” over and over again, and therefore decided to take them apart from their context. I made sure to only select occurrences where the typographic style of each “execution” was different from other ones previously selected.

I realised that in this context, the word “execution” sort of became meaningless. This lead me to an exploration of the etymology of the word.

The word execution comes from French, my native language, meaning “passer à l’accomplissement de quelque chose”, which literally translates to “to proceed to accomplish something”. To do. To make. To execute, some-thing.

See at the link below, nine different definitions of the word execution:

https://www.oed.com/dictionary/execution_n?tab=meaning_and_use&tl=true

Execution has many different meanings in itself, yet this collection of “executions” serves as a typographic exploration and cataloguing of England’s 18th Century printmaking techniques.

2. Alt-text and braille

On their respective information page, each broadside has a set of notes, including a vivid ‘alt-text’ like description of the engraving, each specially crafted.

Alt-text has for purpose to make digital content accessible for people using screen readers.

In this context, my aim was to enhance the accessibility of this broadside collection by developing a catalogue based on detailed alt-text descriptions, which could then be translated into braille.

I collected the below:

• Wood engraving (13 x 10 cm.) : Scene of man strangling a woman with a rope.
• Wood engraving (8.5 x 10.5 cm.) : Prison cell scene of cleric exhorting defendant, with official.
• Wood engraving (8.5 x 17.5 cm.) : Male figure, hanging above prison walls, with guards in attendance.
• Wood engraving (14 x 23 cm.) : Defendant in court before judge and jury.
• Wood engraving (13.5 x 17 cm.) : Hanging scene before prison walls, with spectators.
• Wood engraving (9 x 19 cm.) : Defendant, with priest and official, walking to a gallows set before a crowd.
• Wood engraving (8.3 x 7 cm.) : Male figure, manicled at arms and legs, in a cell. With three rows of type ornament.
• Wood engraving (6 x 16 cm.) : Half-figure male, hanging before prison walls with spectators. With rule borders.

Which in braille would be simply translated as;

I wanted to explore this idea further, in the form of a physical collection of broadside alt-texts, printed on plastic sheets to ensure readability.

3. Hijacking

I experienced with taking apart bits of text, uncovering underlying patriarchal themes.

That’s it for week 1.