Course 2024-2025

Books and digital culture [LLETB001]

  • 3 credits
  • 30h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français
Teacher: LEYH Valérie

Learning outcomes

- At the end of this course, the student will have a global overview of the evolution of the book object and its reappropriation over time.

- The student will be able to understand the constitution and role of digital resources and explain the changes they imply in our practices in the humanities and social sciences.

- The student will also be able to assess the opportunities but also the risks and limitations of digital resources and open access.

Objectives

The aim of this course will be to conduct a theoretical and practical reflection on our current digital culture by focusing on a particular object (the book) and by analysing the different transformations and forms of reappropriation of this medium in the digital age.

Content

This course proposes to rediscover the book by analysing it within the current digital culture, by placing current discourses in a historical context and by proposing to the students to reflect on their reading practices and on the evolution of these practices. The aim is to examine the extent to which digital technologies have transformed the book in recent decades, to identify the new possibilities created by these technologies and to analyse the ways in which books interact with other media.


Teaching methods

Combination of lecture parts, more interactive text analysis parts and complementary activities (e.g. expert lectures).

Participation in any activity organised by the department as part of this course is considered compulsory.

Evaluations

Written examination at the end of the term. General questions on the course material (knowledge questions, reflection and analysis questions).

Recommended readings

Students will be provided with PowerPoint presentations as well as a course reader and a glossary. Additional materials will be posted on Webcampus throughout the semester.

Students will also be provided with references and access to online resources.

Selection of references :

Barbier, Frédéric: Histoire du livre en Occident, Paris 2012.

History of Reading in the Western World, edited by Gugliemo Cavallo and Roger Chartier, Paris 2000.

Read/Write Book 2. An Introduction to Digital Humanities. Edited by Pierre Mounier, OpenEdition Press 2012.

van Hooland, Seth; Gillet, Florence; Hengchen, Simon; De Wilde, Max: Introduction to the digital humanities: methods and practices, Louvain-la-Neuve 2016.

Lire dans un monde numérique, edited by Claire Bélisle, Paris 2011.

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de philosophie et lettres
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree