proseart

Proseart is a term used to describe a form of prose that treats textual content as part of a visual and spatial art. In proseart, typography, page layout, imagery, color, and other design elements are integral to meaning and experience, not merely decorative. Proseart spans print and digital media and encompasses experimental prose, prose poetry, illustrated prose, and hybrids that blend narrative with visual art.

Origins and development: While not tied to a single origin, ideas related to proseart grew from late 20th-century movements in experimental literature, artists' books, and visual poetry. The rise of digital publishing and social media broadened its reach, enabling text and image to be composed interactively or nonlinearly.

Techniques and features: Common techniques include irregular typography, spacing, and margins used to affect pacing; the integration of photographs, drawings, or generative visuals with prose; non-linear or modular page structures; and the use of color, texture, and material media to reinforce tone. Proseart often emphasizes reader engagement, inviting interpretation through visual cues and layout.

Applications and reception: Proseart appears in experimental magazines, art books, graphic novels leaning toward prose, and digital zines. Critics view it as a convergence of literary and visual arts, challenging conventional boundaries between text and image. It is studied within media theory, book arts, and contemporary poetry.

See also: prose poetry, visual poetry, artists' books, graphic nonfiction.