How to read a book

Go to a library, bookstore, or your own book collection and look through the books. Please do not read any. Just pay attention to what catches your eye.

• On the side of the book there are different hues of grays and whites.
• I like seeing observing small details.

Choose a red book and open it to page 6. Close your eyes and put your finger on the page somewhere.

• I placed my finger on the word "silver" that was located in a movie screen shot.
• There are infinite straight lines.

Using your other senses, explain what the paper feels like.

• It is slick.
• It feel like plastic wrap.
• I do not feel the ink from the words.
• Nope!
• There are textures. If I focus my attention on the paper I can imagine it being mountains.
• The cover has a lot of history. The scratches, tears, and dents tell a story.

Without destroying the book, unless you own it and want to, see if you can figure out how the book was constructed.

• It appears to be glued.
• There is no cloth.
• Paperback
• Not to my knowledge.
• The glue reminds me of elementary school.

Flip through the pages and look at the end papers.

• Yes, someone write notes and highlight certain sections.

Examine the book more.

• The cover has a lot of character. The corners are bent. It has dents, scratches, and tears.

Look at the pages of the book.

• It is a dull white.
• The book has photos relating to film.

Think about the history of this book.

• The book has a lot of history. Someone handled it okay.
• The corner of the pages are bent.
• I can not imagine what someone else was thinking while reading this book.
• It is a possibility.

Flip through the pages quickly.

• It sounds like something small is clapping.
• I did not feel the breeze.
• I moved the dust particles with the wind generated with the book.
• This is a possibility.

Drop the book on the floor.

• I experienced dropping the book on the floor.
• I heard the sound it made.
• Nope!
• Nope!

Hold the book between your hands with one hand on each cover and the book closed. Close your eyes.

• The book it cool.
• It is warm.
• YUP!
• My old house gets cold. I read and notice the small details.

Smell the book.

• Green eggs and ham.

I do not recommend tasting the book for health and safety issues… :-)

Now, finally, read the first page. If it is just pictures, read the story of the pictures. 

• FILM ART (An Introduction) 9th Edition
• David Bordwell is an O.G.

Reflect back on this entire exericise.

• It still love looking at books. I don't read as much as I would like.
• Nope!
• Nuffin.

Now think about this class.

• You made use use and think about the majority of our senses on something that we use almost everyday.
• Focus
• You can pull something out of anything.