WRT: Writer Response Theory

A Telstar Logistics Cell
uploaded by jurvetson

According to the owner, “this TLC is a territory-softening Syn-Ack ‘air cover’ node for the Telstar interventional-photography troupe and their urban assault vehicles”… which roughly translated means that the mass of wires and circuit-boards in the picture is actually a collection of stage props (kitchen mixer, periscope, VHS deck, equalizer) which aid the photographer in performing urban infiltrations - sneaking into access-controlled areas under the guise of technical service in order to take photos.

This image comes from the same photographer as the previously discussed Google Master Plan, and both images use heavy text annotation, but here the relationship between text adn image is different.

While in the Master Plan the annotation formed a commentary on the photographed text, here digital text annotation serves as a kind of “reveal codes,” letting us in on true nature of a variety of easter eggs as identified by the author or various canny observers. Unlike photos which annotate “the contents of my handbag” (or desk, office, glove compartment, etc.) by expanding on what is already apparent (this is a desk - this is backstory on the desk), here a glance at the image shows one thing (a complex workstation under construction) while the labels reveal something entirely different (a preposterous pile of junk).

Text-annotated images are a particular kind of hypertextual media - part stretchtext, part advent calendar, with little windows filled with informative treats. In these examples, some examples, such as jurvetson’s “nude photography” breakdowns of digital devices, the effect of the commentary is cumulative. However a hidden text layer can serve a narrative function as well.