The significance of pop-up : an exploration of mechanical engineering's impact on storytelling

Abstract

Storytelling -- and particularly the concept and perception of children's literature -- has changed drastically since the 18 th century. The introduction of movable books was an important step in the gradual shift from didactic literature toward immersive, imaginative stories. These books also drew engineering into the world of literature. As paper engineers continued to expand on the transformation from 2D to 3D for the sake of better communicating stories, the principles they introduced became cutting-edge ideas in engineering. Today, professional pop-up books and other fields of engineering are in constant communication, challenging and improving upon each other. This paper explores pop-up from both an engineer's and a reader's perspective to identify the ways in which pop-up has reformed storytelling. Through the construction of popups as well as an investigation into professional constructions, mechanical complexities of paper work will be discussed. Explanation of the history of children's literature as it pertains to pop-up books will inform investigations into the unique storytelling capabilities of these books. Pop-up in fields other than literature -- namely visual art -- will also be considered. All of this will be condensed into important design criteria to keep in mind when designing and constructing popup works.