browser poetics

Introduction

This is a WIP syllabus for creating browser-based poetry. It will cover the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and guide you to create simple poetic websites with these languages. It will also introduce you to a range of poetic modes, schools and movements across print and digital poetry, with exercises to create browser-based poems inspired by these modes.

This syllabus is currently intended as a self-paced, independent resource. I encourage you to set up a study group if you would like to learn among others.

Intended Outcomes

By reading the syllabus materials and completing the suggested creative prompts, you should be able to:

• Create a simple website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
• Experiment with various interacting properties of HTML, CSS and JavaScript with a poetic intention
• Talk about significant movements or schools within print poetry and digital poetry, and apply their ideas to browser-based poetry

Syllabus

Week 0(?): Introductions

• structure of the course
• why make poetry in the browser?
• what is a website made of?

Week 1: HTML

code concepts:

• elements
• attributes
• page source

poetry examples:

• code poetry
• Benjamin Laird – (en)coded poetry: read, write, execute
• Peter Wildman – modulate a thousand times more
• Katherine Yang – every element is an html
• J.R Carpenter – Fishes & Flying Things

Week 2: CSS

code concepts:

• properties
• selectors, specificity
• box model
• pseudoelements

poetry examples:

• typographic poetry
• visual poetry
• naming/sequences (??? wrote this in notebook w no context)

Week 3: More CSS

code concepts:

• media queries
• transitions
• animations
• transforms

poetry examples:

• animated poetry
• concrete poetry

Week 4: JavaScript basics

code concepts:

• variables
• types
• conditionals
• loops
• arrays
• functions

poetry examples:

• algorithm poems
• oulipo

Week 5: More JavaScript

code concepts

• Objects
• What is the DOM?
• events

poetry examples:

• animated poems?
• Tiger Dingsun – Reading Machines
• Taper

Week 6: JavaScript libraries

code concepts:

• what is a library?
• package managers
• libraries for poetry: Tracery, RiTA

poetry examples:

• TBC!