programmable_poetry
try programmable_poetryprogrammable_poetry is a collaborative poetry-writing experience between user and computer designed to cultivate a relationship of connection and understanding between human and machine. Poetry is a form of literature that expresses human emotions in raw and intimate ways, but often requires structure and order. programmable_poetry begins with a program that generates random words from selected works of the user’s chosen poet. The user is then encouraged to use their creativity to arrange the words into a poem. Once a poem is completed, it is attributed to both authors, the user and the program, and stylized into a code-like format. Lastly, the user places their piece among poems written by other users. The gallery is accompanied by a series of photographs of both the human body and internal hardware, stripping both down to their most intimate parts in order to create a feeling of connection between man and machine.
As a digital artist, programmer, and educator, there are few areas of my life that are not consumed by technology. Writing poetry is one of those areas. The act simply involves a notebook, a pen, and a thought: no computer necessary. Because poetry still feels unabashedly human in a world laden with tech, I wanted to explore how poetry and technology could coexist to create an experience that combats technophobia, a fear, dislike, or avoidance of new technology.programmable_poetry, aims to do this by strengthening the user’s relationship with technology through collaboration and understanding. I believe that building this relationship is essential in a world that is so deeply entangled with technology.
homepage
poetry writing screen
digital gallery wall
video documentation
The gallery at the end of the experience is accompanied by a photo series created specifically for this project. The photo series juxtaposes images of hardware and the human body, creating visual comparisons that highlight the similarities between the two. To create the photographs, I deconstructed a VCR and took detail shots of its internal hardware. I modelled and photographed the nude human body photos, focusing on intimate areas and an up-close perspective. In these shots, I strove to showcase both the human body and technology in their most raw forms, without the covers and clothes we use to hide them.
I was inspired by this set of photos that show visual comparisons between the human body and nature. I think it is often easy to find ourselves in and connect with nature, but more difficult to do the same with technology.
visual comparison between wrist and internal hardware
visual comparison between gear and female breast
visual comparison between the palm of a hand and motherboard
visual comparison between internal hardware and armpit
INSTALLATION
This project was designed to be installed at SOMArts in San Francisco, California, a local cultural center and art gallery that leverages the power of art as a tool for social change through multi-disciplinary events and exhibitions.
The installation plan includes the digital poetry-writing experience on a desktop computer. The desktop features a transparent monitor and tower case for the to put the internal hardware on display and add another point of interest and potential connection. Beside the desktop is a thermal paper printer for the poems to be printed on once complete. The gallery wall is situated above the computer with the photo series printed at a large scale on display. Push pins are provided for the user to hang up their printed poem. Alternatively, envelopes are provided for the user to safely seal their poem to take home. The user could explore poems written by other patrons tacked to the wall.
However, when COVID-19 caused the world to move online and the in-person exhibition to be moved digitally, I had to pivot to an online install, which ushered in the addition of video documentation, the digital gallery wall, at-home printing, and more rounds of user-testing to fine-tune the program. The resulting project can be used entirely online and remote, focusing more deeply on the user's one-on-one interaction with the computer, and still managing to maintain a sense of community in the digital gallery.
exhibition installation mockup
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
This project began with the desire to explore the relationship between humans and computers and how that relationship can be improved, leading to this framing question: How can poetry and imagery be used to cultivate a relationship of collaboration, rather than fear, between humans and technology? What I found in my research was that the coexistence of poetry and technology is being explored from other perspectives. There are poets emulating technology with code poetry and computers emulating human emotions with AI generated poetry. What hadn't been explored, however, was the potential collaboration between human and computer in order to write a poem together. This is why I wanted to make programmable_poetry: not to pit human and machine against each other, but to show how they can work together and gain a better understanding of each other in the process.
Annotated bibliography of research sources