B R I E F
The Deadwood archive brief asks to generate a personal Dewey number based on one’s date of birth. Based on the aforementioned number a book is identified that is then celebrated in a manner that one sees fit.
The Deadwood archive brief asks to generate a personal Dewey number based on one’s date of birth. Based on the aforementioned number a book is identified that is then celebrated in a manner that one sees fit.
S T R A T E G Y
My date of birth is 04 May 1995, which makes my Dewey number 040.595. Research reveals that the number 040 was the only number in the Dewey Decimal Classification System that has been removed. The latter means that no actual book exists in a library to celebrate. This led to the very exciting prospect to conceptualize a fictional book about the disappearance of the 040 division from the Dewey System.
My date of birth is 04 May 1995, which makes my Dewey number 040.595. Research reveals that the number 040 was the only number in the Dewey Decimal Classification System that has been removed. The latter means that no actual book exists in a library to celebrate. This led to the very exciting prospect to conceptualize a fictional book about the disappearance of the 040 division from the Dewey System.
C O N C E P T
Research on Melvil Dewey familiarized me with the story of the Dewey Decimal System. Melvil Dewey’s biography was used as inspiration to create a fictional narrative to serve as a very particular Dead Wood Archive “case study”. The fictional narrative will take the reader upon a journey to intimately get to know 040 as if it were a person, and sympathize with his frustrations, emotional struggles, doubts about his identity and finally his disappearance.
Research on Melvil Dewey familiarized me with the story of the Dewey Decimal System. Melvil Dewey’s biography was used as inspiration to create a fictional narrative to serve as a very particular Dead Wood Archive “case study”. The fictional narrative will take the reader upon a journey to intimately get to know 040 as if it were a person, and sympathize with his frustrations, emotional struggles, doubts about his identity and finally his disappearance.
E X E C U T I O N
The book is in printed form, presented as a book forgotten in a library, and eventually disappears without a trace. It appears to be a type of biography (040 was originally assigned to biographies, until most libraries separated biographies into other sections). The layout and details in the book are inspired by early 1900’s biographies. The publication has a serious and slightly somber tone because it fits Four’s personality. The chapters are designed to have a specific connection to the number four. He is the fourth child out of nine the Dewey system had nine classifications; four years of college; four people had an influence on his life; and four chapters in the book. No color is used as was the norm for these types of publications. Adobe Caslon Pro, originally cut by William Caslon is used for the parts where Four speaks and writes because of its old, nostalgic feel. The Dewey number is handwritten on the spine, as librarians had done before digital technology came along. The paper that starts off as being sturdy and thick, eventually becomes thin and fragile, giving the reader a tactile experience of the story as it progresses and Four disappears, never to be seen again.
The book is in printed form, presented as a book forgotten in a library, and eventually disappears without a trace. It appears to be a type of biography (040 was originally assigned to biographies, until most libraries separated biographies into other sections). The layout and details in the book are inspired by early 1900’s biographies. The publication has a serious and slightly somber tone because it fits Four’s personality. The chapters are designed to have a specific connection to the number four. He is the fourth child out of nine the Dewey system had nine classifications; four years of college; four people had an influence on his life; and four chapters in the book. No color is used as was the norm for these types of publications. Adobe Caslon Pro, originally cut by William Caslon is used for the parts where Four speaks and writes because of its old, nostalgic feel. The Dewey number is handwritten on the spine, as librarians had done before digital technology came along. The paper that starts off as being sturdy and thick, eventually becomes thin and fragile, giving the reader a tactile experience of the story as it progresses and Four disappears, never to be seen again.
Outcome: Pass with Merit
Self bound hardcover book
Inspired by early 1900’s biographies.
The content page looks as if it is fading away, just like Four did.
With each chapter less words are used, just like Four’s voice disappeared.
The final chapter creates the idea of panic and confusion, just before the permanent disappearance of Four.
