LIPS: Cognitive Elements of Medieval Manuscript Layouts

Cognitive Elements of Medieval Manuscript Layouts: Designing and Using the Folio Space, Anna Somfai

The workshop explores, through a close look at various folio layouts of different genres, the cognitive processes behind the design and use of the physical and mental space of medieval manuscript folios. The focus is on a study of the details of producing layouts (such as ruling, using a hierarchy of initials, and planning the text-image spatial relationship) and the consecutive engagement with the content of texts and images (the annotator-reader's textual and visual glosses, intellectual and physical additions). Designing a layout is directly relevant to the transmission of ideas and knowledge and to teaching and learning practices. We shall explore and analyse in detail a large number of digitised folio layouts. Participants of the course are invited to create their own design of a page layout prior to the course in order to understand the intricacies of medieval layout design and discuss them in class via screen share.