On Friday a quartet of musicians in costume sang several popular songs from the American Civil War as part of our Common Book Experience. This semester several courses are using David Madden’s Sharpshooter to stimulate discussions, papers, and in my case, graphic design projects.
My Intro to Mac students have already created Google My Maps based on the places in the book, and they are about to begin a t-shirt project. For this project they will use public domain sheet music from the Library of Congress Stern Collection as a source for amazing ornamented lettering for “Antebellum Remix” t-shirt designs.
In the 1860s sheet music was typically engraved, a printing medium offering fine lines and precise detail. Ornate Victorian lettering was popular at the time, and there is a revived interest now. This trend is visible in book design, music packaging, and contemporary t-shirts. This project encourages students to seek inspiration in historic typography and to use it in contemporary ways. The assignment sheet can be downloaded here.
