Screenshots: The Book of Hours
Simon Groth
Screenshots is a regular feature by Simon Groth, highlighting a project, app, or other resource of interest.
The Book of Hours
by Lucy English
A book of hours describes an anthology of illustrated sacred and devotional texts, popular in the middle ages. Divided into the canonical hours, they contained psalms, prayers and gospel extracts and were designed not to be read in sequence, but rather to be consulted as per the calendar. These were books developed for lay people who wished to incorporate elements of monasticism into their devotional life.
The Book of Hours is an anthology of poetry films, collaborations between poet Lucy English and filmmakers from around the world. Thanks to handheld devices and the ubiquity of internet connectivity, it can be carried in a reader’s pocket and consulted at any time of the day. Divided (roughly) into the canonical hours, it serves the current film based on the time in the reader’s location. Though very much secular, the structure of The Book of Hours recalls the same contemplative mood that its sacred counterparts no doubt inspired.

Being film-based means that such contemplation can never be silent, though, and there is no option to read the texts, either independently of the films or inline as closed captions. However, this does not ultimately detract from The Book of Hours as a beautiful and reflective experience. Its navigation and design are never intrusive and the poems are well matched to the accompanying visuals.
Related posts
Screenshots is a regular feature by Simon Groth, highlighting a project, app, or other resource of interest. The Cartographer’s Confession By James Attlee The Cartograph...
When The Writing Platform asked me if I would be so kind as to write something about how you lovely writers out there could approach bloggers I was really honoured. Yet after I had...
Screenshots is a regular feature by Simon Groth, highlighting a project, app, or other resource of interest. Frankenbook By Mary Shelley, et. al. That this...
Screenshots is a regular feature by Simon Groth, highlighting a project, app, or other resource of interest. A Poem Floats by Pascalle Burton How much can you say using ...
At the start of the year our Australian Project Editor, Donna Hancox, wrote a piece for us on Transmedia Storytelling and Social Change; describing how digital technology has provi...
Firstly, what are poetry films? One thing they are not (although they can be) is films of people reading or reciting poetry. Confused? Even the name of the genre is disputed. Poetr...