Editor's Note

“For centuries, the written and spoken word has played a crucial role in the formation of communities and the dissemination of knowledge. From manuscripts, to printed novels, to the invention of Twitter, humans have relied on text in various forms to connect, learn, and grow as individuals and as a society. The preservation of text has played an important role in the attempt to bridge the gap between cultures of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This long-standing relationship between texts as material heritage objects that should be carefully preserved, and as content carriers that help sustain society as we know it is the interest of TXT’s anniversary Xth edition. Exploring text across the centuries and analysing how texts continue to change in the 21st century help us more fully grasp and appreciate the ways in which text is, and texts are, intrinsically linked to our humanity.”

THE QUOTE ON the opposite page comes from our Call for Papers, and establishes the importance of our topic better than any newly written words could. However, deciding upon the topic for the current edition of TXT Magazine led our team of Book and Digital Media Studies Master’s students down a long road of debate. As a small team of six, we had many things we hoped for this year’s edition to showcase. However, one of the very first things we were able to unanimously decide upon was our desire to ask the prospective contributors to the magazine to explore the relationship between culture and texts. Through this decision, we considered the fact that the written and spoken word have always had central roles in the shaping of communities and knowledge. From this, our current topic, focusing on the retention of humanity and culture (in written, printed, or spoken form) and the shape those formats might take, was born. This decision led us to receive various interesting and exciting pieces which all touch on our desire to explore ‘Centuries of TeXT’.

These contributions have been divided into three thought-provoking chapters: ‘TeXT and Modalities’, ‘TeXT and Society’, and ‘TeXT and the Reader’. In ‘TeXT and Modalities’, we examine the ever-changing mediums through which texts are presented, ranging from historical manuscripts to digital platforms. Articles in this chapter explore how different text modalities shape our reception and engagement with information. ‘TeXT and Society’ delves into the broader societal interactions with texts throughout history, the present, and into the future. Contributors explore how texts have influenced social dynamics, cultural norms, and collective memory, providing valuable insights into the interplay between human experience and the written word. The articles in our final chapter, ‘TeXT and the Reader’, offer an insightful exploration of the individual’s direct interaction with texts. From the perspective of different eras, from ancient literary masterpieces to contemporary works, we gain a deeper understanding of the profound connections forged through literature.

In the spirit of preserving the culture of TXT, we have included contributions from current BDMS students, lecturers, previous board members, and past contributors. Aspects of the magazine's materiality reflect BDMS and Leiden University: our main colour scheme pays homage to the university, while the dust covers (limited to select copies) were printed using the programme’s printing press, reminiscent of old libraries’ Morocco leather books. Our visual design aims to connect our modern magazine to centuries of literary history, creating a compelling bridge between past and present. As we invite our readers to explore the world of texts across centuries, we hope they experience the passion for this rich realm through the diverse contributions in this milestone edition.

Elles van Dijken
Editor-in-Chief