Reading group session 1
During this reading group, I shared my thoughts on the materials assigned for Session 1. These articles revolve around the question of how to view print in the contemporary context. Most of us chose to focus on "The What and the Why of Print", a text with a broader scope and stronger relevance to printmaking. At the same time, I also explored "Postcolonial Print Culture," which felt simultaneously the closest and most distant to me. The topics of colonialism and postcolonialism do not strongly resonate with my cultural background, but this unfamiliarity naturally evokes curiosity.
What intrigued me in "Postcolonial Print Culture" was its discussion on the challenges of cultural dissemination in a postcolonial context. Colonial printing technologies and their residual infrastructures act as a double-edged sword. While print media and technologies possess immense potential to drive anti-colonial waves of thought, they simultaneously carry cultural and class-based imprints. When printed materials are confined to certain social strata, marginalized groups are once again excluded from these dialogues. This paradox highlights that although postcolonial print cultures are valuable in reclaiming autonomy, they must also address the persistent structural inequalities and exclusions embedded within their frameworks.
"The What and the Why of Print", on the other hand, examines the awkward position of print as a medium in the digital era. While print excels at disseminating information widely, its unidirectional and non-interactive nature limits reader engagement, especially when compared to the immediacy of feedback offered by modern digital media. Thus, although the public accessibility of print in historical and artistic contexts is undeniable, it needs to integrate with digital technologies, leveraging their respective strengths to balance speed and depth in communication and achieve broader public value.
In discussions with my classmates, I realized the importance of maintaining a diversity of perspectives in critical writing. While starting from a particular angle often leads to naturally building on subsequent points, delving deeply into a topic requires seeking connections, testing assumptions, and addressing contradictions from more nuanced perspectives.
References
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Balfour, B. (2016). The What and the Why of Print. In: T. Cooper and J. Law (eds.) Printopolis. Toronto: Open Studio, pp. 142-157.
- Robertson, F. (2013). ‘Postcolonial Print Culture.’ In: F. Robertson, Print Culture. New York: Routledge, pp. 118-132.