(03/03) 24/7 Exhibition book response- Reflection

My aim in developing the book was to create a book that engages your inner voice, making you take part in this narrative, to make you self aware before slowly introducing a more sinister tone as the book influences your thoughts and makes you aware of the power in that.

Watching different members of the class interact with my book “escape” made it apparent the book is too long. It deterred many from even picking it up let alone initially engaging with it. Also once it was picked up some skipped pages. A factor that may have contributed to this response may have been the time constraint and that the audience is students in the morning wanting to get through this as quick as possible. Yet it should still invite reading in spite of these and so is an issue I would remedy if I were going to do another version. However those who got past these inhibitors did respond to them book the way I’d hoped, words like “calm yet unnerved“ was precisely what I was aiming for, as you enjoy an exploration of your inner narrative but slowly become aware of the impact of the book over your thoughts.

If I were going to do this again I would shorten the book in page count either by shortening and combining wording and/or cutting some out. I’d also find a way to combine pages, but not to the extent that it becomes busy and ruins the calming effect.