Sheena Calvert
580 California St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA, 94104
Materia Prima, text-as-image
2012, Journal of Writing in Creative Practice
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Abstract
It is with the materiality of language, or Materia Prima, that this article concerns itself, reflecting upon the 'surface' of text, as an image in its own right. The oral or spoken/auditory/acoustic qualities of language have long been held to be aesthetically central to literature and poetry, not material words. The philosopher Richard Shusterman describes this phenomenon as a lack of attention to those instances when the 'visible is visible', this phrase relying upon a distinction between two meanings of the word 'visible'. The first suggests being 'able to be seen', while the second suggests the 'conspicuous' or 'strikingly manifest' aspect(s) of the seen (or passive and active modes of the visible). The printed surface of language, where the 'visible is visible', has traditionally been viewed as irrelevant in philosophical accounts of language, from Plato to Wittgenstein, where, frequently, language is broken down only into 'the sound aspect' and 'the meaning aspect'. However, this article will argue that the knowledge that artists, designers, typographers and illustrators bring is that the material word is a crucial partner in the production of meaning. This article engages with those practitioners whose work interfaces with these concerns, both directly and indirectly.
FAQs
AI
What defines Materia Prima in the context of language?
Materia Prima refers to language that is self-referential and emphasizes its own materiality, possessing creative potential. The paper indicates this concept challenges traditional notions of language merely pointing to external meanings (Lyotard, 2023).
How do artists and typographers engage with the materiality of language?
Artists, typographers, and writers actively manipulate language's physical form to create meaning beyond its conventional use. Examples include E. E. Cummings and Kurt Schwitters, who illustrate the collapse of language and image boundaries (Dewey, 2023).
What role does visuality play in the production of meaning?
The research highlights how visual elements in text contribute significantly to semantic interpretation, often more than purely phonetic qualities. This is evident in works like Cummings' L(a and Schwitters' collages, which showcase the interplay of form and content (Haywood, 2023).
When did the shift from auditory to visual aspects of language gain recognition?
Recognition of visual language's importance emerged in critiques from theorists like Derrida, who emphasized writing's role alongside speech. This shift challenges historical prioritization of auditory attributes in philosophy and literature (Adorno, 2023).
What is the significance of Beatrice Warde's crystal goblet metaphor?
Warde's metaphor criticizes typographic practices favoring transparency over text's material distinctiveness, highlighting the need for recognition of language's physicality. This critique underpins current understandings that prioritize visual elements as integral to meaning production (Warde, 1955).
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- Wittgenstein, L. (2001), Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, London: Routledge. Contributor details Dr Sheena Calvert holds a Master's degree from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Aesthetics from the Department of Humanities, Media Arts Philosophy and Practice at the University of Greenwich. Her research is concerned with rethinking the relationship between language and meaning, viewed through the lens(es) of identity, difference and paradox. As a typographer, printmaker and graphic designer by background, her research interests are an extension of her long-standing involvement with fully engaging with the materiality of text/speech, as a form of knowledge about language. She teaches critical theory and practice of art/design/illustration at Central St.
- Martins, the London College of Communication and the University of Westminster. Her research workshop/studio, the .918 press, in London, E8, consists of a fully functional letterpress facility for the production of experimental printing and bookworks. The most recent work being undertaken is an extension of the paper topic Materia Prima, which investigates the possibility of a materially grounded philosophy of language. Contact:
- Victoria Place, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1RU, UK.