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05/13/2006
Info: What is Altered Text?
The term "altered text" refers to the creative process of modern-day palimpsest which gained popularity through the success of Tom Phillips's pioneering treatment of W.H.Mollock's A Human Document which then became: "A Humument."
How does altered text differ from "found text"?
Unlike "found text" (in which printed text items are cut, rearranged and glued to a new location), the process of altering text involves highlighting (wanted) and obscuring (unwanted) words, phrases or individual letters of text while retaining their original positions on the original paper.
How does altered text differ from "found poetry"?
"Found poetry" may be classified as either altered text or found text, depending on how the poetry is constructed. If the words of the poem are used in their original positions on the original paper, it's an altered text process. If the poem is built by cutting text and rearranging it, it's a found text process.
How does altered text differ from an "altered book"?
Generally it doesn't. When you practice altered text in a book, that book becomes altered; hence, it's altered text in an altered book. Although you need a book to make an altered book, you don't need a book to do altered text. You can do it on any form of printed text, such as magazines, newspapers, even pieces of junk mail! Some persons extract a page from a paperback novel, then work that page on its own. After viewing A Humument, the idea of filling an entire book with altered text is just too cool to resist for many people, including myself!
How are disparate words related together or connected in altered text?
Words and phrases that are chosen around the page are usually pulled together, related or connected by the use of "rivers" (connections developed through the available whitespace of the text body) or with "sticks" (semi-straight lines that connect the words like connect-the-dots) or by other artistic devices. When the reader's eye follows the visual flow of the rivers, sticks or other cues, sensible phrases or even complete sentences are able to be read in the chosen text. Some text is related together solely by the use of color; and really, any decorative method could be used that the artist desires. Some altered text is simply "free floating" with no connective elements at all.
What media can be used for altered text?
Any art media you want to use that works in your book is going to be the right media to use (although oil media are discouraged since oils can ruin books). Unlike a typical altered book, the pages of an altered text book are meant to remain in place such that both sides of every page can be viewed individually and the pages can still be flipped through naturally as with any other book. Exceptions can certainly be made to permit desired media (such as paper collage that may stiffen pages), or even to alter the text of pages separate from the book itself. Other than the basic need to keep the text in its original position on the original paper, there are no specific rules except the ones you set for your own project.
How do I mask my selected words in order to paint/decorate around them?
Time-honored masking methods are to use frisket film (a temp-adhesive acetate that is cut with a craft knife) or liquid frisket (a masking fluid that is brushed on) or a masking pen (liquid frisket in pen format). There are a number of additional methods: Post-It Note tape, clear fingernail polish, dimensional glaze, wax resist (using a colorless candle or crayon), rubber cement, etc. You could even just paint carefully around your selections.
What designs can I use in altered text?
Ask yourself what designs you like and venture in that direction. Some of your pages might be very elaborate while others are rather plain, or you might choose to do an entire book using the same motif throughout. It's your book, so choose anything that appeals to you.
What should my altered text book "say"?
It should say whatever you want it to say. Maybe you want your book to become a poetry book or a story book or an unusual scrapbook or a personal journal or...? It's your book and your choice!
| A few must-see altered text links | |
| "A Humument" official website | "A Humument" at Tom Phillips's website |
| "A Cup of Sky" Karen Hatzigeorgiou | "Reincarnation" Busstop |
| "The Art of Happiness" Karen Hatzigeorgiou | AlterNation Vanessa Barger |
| "A Whim" Alteredtome | "Giacometti Portrait Of New Orleans" David Tilley |
If you've made an altered text book, are working on an altered text project or are ready to begin one, consider joining the AlteredText Yahoogroup for daily inspiration, tips, sharing pages and discussion of all things altered text.
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