Author Archives: ghw

letter writing in renaissance england

Posted on by

Those of you in the D.C. area might want to stop by this exhibit at the Folger:

This exhibition devotes itself to the myriad processes of letterwriting: the penning, sending, receiving, reading, circulating, copying, and saving of letters. The text of a letter provides one part of the story, while its very tangibility –the ancient folds, the grime and fingerprints deposited by the writer, deliverer, and readers, the broken seals, the ink blots, the idiosyncratic spelling, the location of a signature–tells another. An understanding of a letter’s written and unwritten social signals brings into focus a fuller, grittier, and ultimately more convincing picture of everyday life in early modern England.

(Via WaPo.)

dealing with writer’s block

Posted on by

“Hack your way out of writer’s block,” at 43 Folders. I think my favorite is “Talk to a monkey – Explain what youíre really trying to say to a stuffed animal or cardboard cutout.” In general, I subscribe to the “Write for 10 minutes no matter what” technique. A good way to start the day with a strong cup of coffee.

summer institute on franklin

Posted on by

This 2005 summer institute at the National Humanities Research Center looks interesting:

Benjamin Franklin: Reader, Writer, Printer
Led by Peter Stallybrass (University of Pennsylvania)
July 10-15
This seminar will focus upon Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, and in particular upon his detailed descriptions of what and how he read from when he was a child, on his material practices as a writer, on his fascination with authorship and anonymity, and on his work in every aspect of the book trade.

hits and misses

Posted on by

They did it their way: “The Telegraph‘s music critics select the 50 best cover versions ever recorded”

This list gets some things wrong: Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” is much better than his cover of U2’s “One.” The Bangles doing “Hazy Shade of Winter”? Give me a break! Jeff Buckley’s version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” over John Cale’s version? Wrong.

Meanwhile, what about Tori Amos’ version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” or the Sundays doing the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses”?

Bah!

analog remediates the digital

Posted on by

I came across a description of this device in the latest issue of ReadyMade:

gramophone.jpg

It’s all the rage these days to put your vinyl collection on CD. But one electronics manufacturer is being particularly literal. Japanese edutainment company Gakken recently released Gramophone: The Disc Player, a twisted throwback that lets you record sound onto discarded CD’s by cutting grooves into their surface.

The device, which retails online for about $40, arrives in 41 pieces and requires an hour of assembly. The final step is to add your own sewing needle, used to both record and play sound on plastic. When you set the battery-powered device to record, the turntable rotates while its cone picks up vibrations in the air and, with the needle, etches a corresponding pattern onto a CD’s surface. The needle uses a lighter touch for playback, pulling Ray Charles from that thrashed Wham! disc.

Like the late 1800’s original, this gramophone is rather primitive. It’s can’t record off an external microphone, nor can it connect to stereo speakers, and the sound of etched plastic isn’t as crisp as on the vinyl. You’ll have to keep a supply of needles on hand, each lasts about 10 recordings. But there is good reason to buy one. Gakken says the device is flexible enough to be used with almost any soft, plastic material. You’ll be the first DJ to rock the party with a set of instant-ramen lids.”