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COURSE OVERVIEW

AUDIO DESCRIPTION: THE VISUAL MADE VERBALArts Access For People Who Are Blind

Instructor: Joel Snyder, President, Audio Description Associates

Director, Audio Description Project, American Council of the Blind

Telephone: 301 920-0218 or cell-301 452-1898

E-mail: [email protected]

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Course Description

Audio Description (AD) makes the visual images of theater, media and visual art accessible for people who are blind or have low vision—the visual is made verbal. Using words that are succinct, vivid, and imaginative, describers convey the visual image that is not fully accessible to a segment of the population and not fully realized by the rest of us—people who see but who may not observe.

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In pauses between pieces of dialogue or critical sound elements, describers insert narrative that translates the visual image into a sense form that is accessible to millions of individuals who otherwise would lack full access to the arts.

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In training describers, focus is on four fundamentals:

OBSERVATION We learn to see the world anew. Inhis book, "Seen/Unseen: A Guide to Active Seeing,“the photographer, John Schaefer, coins the phrase"visual literacy." Schaefer refers to the need to“increase your level of awareness and become anactive ‘see er’." The best describers will truly noticeall the visual elements that make up an event.

Whatdo you seein thisimage?

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2) EDITING

Audio describers must then edit or cull from what they see, selecting what is most valid, what is most important, what is most critical to an understanding and appreciation of an event. Often, only a few precious seconds are available to convey those images.

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3) LANGUAGE

We transfer it all to words—objective, vivid, imaginatively drawn words, phrases, and metaphors. For instance, how many different words can you use to describe someone moving along a sidewalk?

Why say "walk" why you can more vividly describe the action with “sashay,” “stroll,” “skip,” “stumble,” or “saunter”?

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4) VOCAL SKILLS

Finally, in addition to building a verbal capability, the describer (or whoever will voice the descriptions) develops the vocal instrument through work with speech and oral interpretation fundamentals.

Try the tongue twisters on the next three slides just for fun. “Speak the speech trippingly” as Hamlet says—after you read each one aloud, click on the button following the line to hear me give it a try.

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“Make mother mad!,” cried mischievous Marvin, munching a marble. Maybe Marvin meant much more as he moved motionlessly.

666 seasick sailors slinked over the steel sides.

A big black bug bit a big black bear and the big black bear bled black blood.

Rubber baby buggy bumpers.

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National Shropshire Sheep Association.

 “Are you copper-bottoming them, my man?” “No, I’m aluminuming ‘em, mum.”

Dr. Pepper’s pink pills for poor, pitiful, pepless people. 

Amidst the mists and coldest frosts,With stoutest wrists and loudest boasts,He thrusts his fists against the posts,And still insists he sees the ghosts.

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If a Hottentot tot taught a Hottentot totTo talk ere the tot could totter,Ought the Hottentot tot be taught to say ought?Or, what ought to be taught her? If to hoot and toot a Hottentot totBe taught by a Hottentot tutor,Should the tutor get hot if the Hottentot totHoot and toot at the Hottentot tutor? Katy Krocker cooked a cup of proper coffee in a proper copper coffee cup. Caesar sighed and seized the scissors.

Whether the weather be cold, whether the weather be hot,We’ll be together whatever the weather,

whether we like it or not. 

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Course Goals: By the end of this course students can expect to know/experience:

-- who are "the blind"?

-- the history of Audio Description

-- Active Seeing / Visual Literacy

-- the art of "editing" what you see

-- using language to conjure images

-- using Audio Description in live theater productions, in video/film, with visual art exhibits, and on the web

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Sessions 1 and 2–

Introduction;

Who are "the blind"?;

The history of Audio Description;

Viewing of audio description documentaries;

Viewing/analysis of audio described samples.

For private study and discussion on Message Board (click on / visit the following sites):

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Sessions 3 and 4–

Active Seeing / Visual Literacy;

The art of "editing" what you see;

Using language to conjure images;

Viewing/analysis of audio described samples.

For private study and discussion on Message Board (click on / visit the following site):

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Sessions 5 and 6–

Using Audio Description in:

-live theater productions;-in video/film;-with visual art exhibits.

Audio description practica

For private study and discussion on Message Board (click on / visit the following site):

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Sessions 7 and 8 –

Audio description practica

For private study and discussion on Message Board (click on / visit the following site):

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Sessions 9 and 10 –

Audio description practica

For private study and discussion on Message Board (click on / visit the following site):

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Sessions 11 and 12 –

Audio description practica;

Presentation of final exams.

For private study and discussion on Message Board (click on / visit the following site):

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Final Exam

The final exam will involve the development of and the live or recorded delivery of an audio description script for a half-hour video of his/her choosing (subject to prior review and approval by the instructor).