[LM_NET] Subject: Altered books - response to comments by Lesley Johnson

[BARTOLET <BARTOLET@NSUOK.EDU>]

LM Netters - I was so surprised  to see the flame about altered books
and altered book artists on LM NET that I had to respond.

I think this may be a case of "contempt before investigation."  Altered
book artists in noway shape or form promote the "harming, mishandling"
of books or "dangerous messages."

I also think that saying altered books:

"smacks of re-writing history and raises all sorts of disturbing issues. I just 
don't see this as a healthy way to be artistic, because it endorses the altering of 
another person's completed intellectual property."

is completely off base.  On the contrary, Altered Book artists are highly 
respectful of books, treat them with the care and respect one does with pieces of 
art. Altered book artists are also some of the pickiest people I have encountered 
(save librarians) when it comes to protecting copyrighted intellectual property.

"Or do they take the time to credit all of the images and words used? "

Yes, they do, if they use them.

Anyone who is familiar with art history realises that the tradition of
taking every day objects or other works or art (or literature mind you)
and creating a unique objects has been around for quite awhile (See the
art terminoloy "influences", "from the school" of, "after", see also the
movement "Dada"

This statement is completely untrue:

"The fact that the International Society of Altered Book Artists have to explain 
themselves on the website probably indicates that others find the idea 
questionable."

ISABA expalins themselves on their website beacuse it is good practice to tell your 
purpose on any website. I am sure there may be a few who feel altered books is 
"questionable" but I think they really need to find out more before making such 
judgements about others creativity.

"But to extend this hobby into the use and alteration of other people's 
intellectual property is not legitimate, IMHO. "

How is one able to make such sweeping judgements about an art form based on their 
own opinon only? Are the same kind of judgements made about books not read?

Robin Bartoletti
Instructor, Library Media and Information Technoloy
Northeasern State University, Oklahoma
bartolet@nsuok.edu


________________________________________________________________________________

Date:    Thu, 7 Apr 2005 11:37:07 -0700
From:    Lesley Johnson <lcjohnsonvip@TELUS.NET>
Subject: Re: Altered Books Website

Subject: Altered Books Website

=20

Personally and professionally, I am appalled at this idea, especially =
using it with students. I was taught, and do feel, that a published book is
sacrosanct, not to be harmed or mishandled in any way; to arbitrarily =
rip out or add in images and words to an already published book, to me, =
seems to send a very dangerous message about reliable authority and legitimacy of
expression. Even for an old and outdated encyclopedia, the idea of =
changing it into something else

And what about issues of copyright? Are they saying that because it is =
=93art=94
and a slightly different medium that it is okay to use other people=92s =
words
and images, without proper credit? Or do they take the time to credit =
all of
the images and words used?=20

This is also directly related to all the rules and policies Librarians =
have
developed for the discarding of weeded books: it is to be done carefully =
and
authoritatively, and the book is permanently removed from the premises.
Librarians do not leave judiciously weeded and discarded books lying =
around
for people to make into something else, like so much knitting wool or =
fabric
scraps. =20

The fact that the =93International Society of Altered Book Artists=94 =
have to
explain themselves on the website probably indicates that others find =
the
idea questionable. This art form seems to be an extension of the =
decidedly
domestic hobby of =91scrapbooking,=92 in which (usually) women create, =
on
initially blank pages, a collage of words and family photos to preserve
events in their own family=92s personal history =96 a perfectly =
legitimate
expression. But to extend this hobby into the use and alteration of =
other
people=92s intellectual property is not legitimate, IMHO. I would never
support this use of books with students.

=20

Mrs. Lesley Johnson

Surrey School District #36

Surrey, British Columbia,

Canada

HYPERLINK "http://www.sd36.bc.ca/"www.sd36.bc.ca


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