Cultural Evolution:

Monuments of Italy

Italy has many historic sites, many of which have survived for centuries. At the time of their creation, they were influential structures in society, but now their importance has changed. These monuments began with a defined purpose to a ‘singular’ theocratic community, but now their purpose has diversified to encompass a global structure.

This change could be perceived as a negative consequence of the growth of modernism, characterising these monuments as ‘contaminated space’. Yet, consideration should be given to how this change, influenced by budding tourism, has become crucial to the lives of countless civilians surrounding these sites. Cultural evolution is not linear, and there is no predetermined objective. These monuments, and the people connected to them, have adapted to survive an ever-changing environment and aim to preserve the history of these sites.

This publication aims to analyse how the purpose of Italian monuments has evolved and how people, in particular tourists, interact with these spaces. Utilising a collection of uniquely edited photographs, this publication highlights what is often overlooked within these historic locations. Aiming to draw the attention of the reader, these images illustrate moments in time when these monuments were impacted by overcrowding, touristic ventures and technological advancements.

Taking inspiration from Bruno Munari’s An Unreadable Quantrat-Print (1953), this publication plays with the typical reading and book-binding structure. In an attempt to immerse the reader in the ‘reading process’, questionable folds, paper sizes and colour choices have been used. These choices have been enacted to confuse readers, forcing them to consider a reading structure outside their norm.

This publication has also been bound using a Coptic stitch, the use of this binding method highlights to readers just one of the technical considerations for this piece. This small detail illustrates the difficult nature of bookbinding, a common practice that is often overlooked when reading a typical novel. The hope for this publication is that readers will have a greater curiosity for the spaces surrounding them, both old and new and that they will have greater consideration for what has evolved.

Cultural Evolution

Research

Outcome

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