As a literature student who studies electronic literature, I constantly have to think in a very formalist manner about the media with which we experience literary works and how the literary content and the medium in which it is produced can both communicate crucial aspects related to the text. Thus, for my unexpected object, I decided to cut a hole in a codex book in which I could put my iPad touch; one of the principal uses for this object would be to read literary works on the iPad. Thus, I chose a book that was both large enough to hold my iPad and that I would not miss too much if I were to alter it in this way. After measuring the dimensions required, I took an x-acto knife and cut out an adequately sized rectangle. This process was rather arduous, as the pages are a lot thicker and resistant to cutting than one would expect. Once all the pages were cut out, I cleaned the empty space a little, glued some pages that had fallen out of the binding, and then it was ready.
Prior to the exercise, books would evoke feelings of boredom and anxiety; I do not customarily read many books for pure pleasure these days, as almost all of the books I read are for school, and thus they represent both an obligation and an impediment to some other activity I may prefer doing. Additionally, I also consider the book a slightly antiquated, although still very ubiquitous, medium; one that provokes contradictory feelings of nostalgia and contempt. Upon altering the object, the principal characteristic with which I would imbue it would be irony. I understand that this was, essentially the goal of the activity, but by converting one object into a container for an object with which it is, in many ways, in competition, there is definitely a playful, provocative element that it exudes in its transformed state. The most intriguing commentary from the class was related to the origins of the book, which did highlight an important point: the book was mostly chosen because I did not care to read it, but it would definitely heighten the effect of the object if it were a book that I really did cherish, as it would represent my almost complete rejection of the codex book as a literary medium.
Sadly, in my attempts to elicit reactions from the public (at cafés, in libraries, etc.), no one seemed to notice or care. It does fit in enough, which is to say it resembles a book to the sufficient degree, so that it does not spur much discussion – which is, in its own way, one of the most significant aspects of the object: common reactions to literature on a medium such as a tablet or to “electronic literature” are often negative. Especially from the codex Luddites that are ubiquitous in today’s society, the thought of a literary work being experienced on (not even to mention being specifically created for) a digital medium is heresy. Thus, by repurposing a traditional, codex book and making it into a holding device for reading texts on a tablet, I have wholly transformed the book into what it is and always has been: a container. Whereas it customarily contains a literary work, this altered object contains a different, more recent in terms of technological advancement, container for literary works. Thus, in terms of provoking critique on the various media with which we consume literature, I would say that, at least for myself, I have accomplished my goal (I will continue taking it to cafés to hopefully provoke that same thought in others).