Ray Zill 2025

Abstract

Splendid Irony reflects on my relationship to text as a print-disabled artist and librarian. I exist in a liminal space between print and electronic text, always longing for the tangible. My work draws on the tension between tactile and visual modes of perception and the human touch we often lose by reading digitally. Through print, and physical media in general, I regain an intimacy lost in our digital age, one that can be found on the press or by directly animating on film. I experiment with light, magnification, and sound to challenge traditional methods of reading and the didactic meaning we place on text. My research focuses on personal narratives from blind and visually impaired artists and writers reflecting on their experience with sight loss and reading. I then broaden my scope to include origins of ocularcentrism, the importance of touch, and technostalgia. My hope is to present both an intimate glimpse of my lived experience as well as a universal longing towards print, reading, and physical media. This paper asks: Why are we still craving physical media in a digital age that boasts convenience, accessibility, and connection? And how do we maintain touch on screen?