Alt Text Workshop
"Kim first came across alt-text in the context of web accessibility a few years ago, but since then finds herself returning to it often, through her interest in writing that happens off-page.
Eleni learned about alt-text by using tumblr and her interest in fanfiction.
Together we want to explore questions like To what extend can text represent or translate visual media? or How do we deal with expected 'objectivity' of such written representation? and What other shapes or purposes can writing alt-text have?..."
Exercise
- Choose a piece static visual media (painting, website, poster, typeface, image (dont be boring), diagram ...) important: dont show what you selected to others yet
Write alt text for it. while writing, consider what we discussed before:
- The role of context
- Form of writing
Put your alt text (not the image!) in the collective pool
- Everyone draws an alt text from the collective pool and recreate / interpret the visual media described on it. Here the alt text can work as specific instruction or a more loose prompt to start from. you can use pen and paper or drawing software or code - whatever comes to your mind and feels fitting.
- In the last step we try to find back which 'original' piece of media and interpretation belong together.
Outcome
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