Tree of Codes a newly released book by Jonathan Safran Foer, is a fantastic example of how the book is made can shape how a reader perceives the content. In this book the author has designed cutaways removeing words and parts of pages to reveal words and pages beneath. The main theme of the book is the story of “an enormous last day of life”. But with different die-cut on every page, the story is shaped and reshaped each time a reader turns the page. New relationships and juxtapositions between pages encourage new interpretations by the reader.
For more information, and a short video explanation from the author go to:
http://www.visual-editions.com/tree-of-codes#2
This approach to book writing and creation also reminds me of artist Brian Dettmer.
Instead of creating literature, Dettmer carves one page at a time from out-of-date books, re-purposing and reinterpreting them. Amazingly, he doesn't add anything to the books (with the exception of glue and binding materials) but only cuts away. By taking away material, these are books transformed into sculpture.
