FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES
ON
WEB FICTION
2004

web page workshop
 

"In the proud tradition of giving children their own web domain as a christening present, my creators have given me my own website." Lucy, a robot orang-utan

This week's work is to design a simple web site. Your work may remain on paper, or be transferred to a CDROM. It's probably better not to rely on online stability at this stage!

The aim of the exercise is two-fold:
• to think about the structure of web sites
• to approach a conceptual aspect of the course from a simple, 3D, web-design perspective.

I am not seeking a complicated design but, rather, an analysis of the process.

before the session

• I would expect everyone to read at least two works of theory this week. If you havent already done so, check out the Landow, Aarseth, or Murray (full details in bibliography).
• If necessary, use the class online instructions to learn or rehearse basic HTML skills. Have a word with me if you would like a tutorial.
• With just simple formatting it is possible to produce a useful and attractive site, and you are strongly encouraged to play with this basic formatting - becoming competent with the fundamentals of HTML, stretching the way the code is used, learning to appreciate the nuances of basic web sites - before moving on to more complex elements of design. However, I don't intend to hold anyone back, and I will point you in the direction of many resources, both online and in the books.

• On paper, sketch out a small web site you would like to create. What will your web site be about? Take the challenge of designing a site about some aspect of the course work, remembering it need not be a formal site in order to address serious issues: 'YorkGurls Online' OR 'My life as a Cyborg' OR 'Powerbook: Version 2". Draw arrows to help you decide where you will put a link. Your plan might look something like this.
• Continue with your theoretical reading (see bibliography and session worksheets). What aspects of web-theory are begining to make sense?
• Think about the hyperlink. What does a hyperlink do? You might find Kate Pullinger's research useful here: try the online discussion.
• Browse the web. Start to analyse the different sites you see. What is their purpose? Who is their target audience/ readership? What are some of the differences between 'art sites' and 'commercial sites' (the answers are not always obvious)? What do you like/ not like about certain web pages? Do you find yourself responding to sites that make you work at reading/ browsing/ viewing or do you get frustrated and move elsewhere - and in what ways is this different from engaging with print?

during the session

There will be presentations and discussion of all web sites. Come to class with your papers, a few digital pages if you want, and some thoughts on the process, and how this challenges, confirms, or relates in some way to web-theories.

Discussion should aim to relate the web-sites-in-progress to ideas and perspectives you have been reading about during the module.

NB: This exercise can form the basis of an assignment, either in its form, or though the ideas you generate, although it need not.

Some useful web design sites

BigNoseBird.Com

Web Monkey

Dynamic Drive

Also, check out the courses and online guides offered by York's computing services.