From clay tablet to electronic tablet: exploring the history of reading
Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen
Reading is such a self-evident part of life that you don’t usually realise how special and essential literacy actually is. Nevertheless, the History of Reading research group at the University of Groningen’s Faculty of Arts is spotlighting the importance of reading and literacy. Among other things, the group organise public information activities, a public exhibition, and a learning pack.
During a major exhibition – The Town as Monastery: Reading, Writing, and Living in the Late Middle Ages – at the Krona Museum in Uden, the general public could find out about reading culture and devotion in the town and monastery during the late Middle Ages. In cooperation with Krona, project team members and partners, the research team contributed an introductory film, an interactive audio guide, public lectures, a palaeography course, and a live concert of French liturgical music. Another special initiative by the team is the Reading and Writing in the Middle Ages learning pack for secondary-school pupils (Pre-University Secondary School level 3), created in collaboration with the University of Groningen’s School Pupils Academy.
The Rewarded! Fund will enable the researchers to expand their science communication activities, for example in a series of podcasts and videos on the history of reading from Antiquity to the present day. They intend focusing specifically on the material aspects of reading.
Websites:
Museum Krona – De stad als klooster
Rug – Lezen en schrijven in de middeleeuwe
Coordinator:
Sabrina Corbellini, hoogleraar
Other group members:
Margriet Hoogvliet, postdoc onderzoeker
Renske Hoff, promovendus
Anna de Bruyn, promovendus
Pieter Boonstra, promovendus
Bert Tops, promovendus
