Essay on the future of writing-reading: thought, meditation and synchronicities
Proposal Type
Experimental Track
Location
Algorithms & Imaginaries
Start Date
July 2026
End Date
July 2026
Abstract
Experimental essay. 40 min
Keywords : experimental essay, evolving textual practices, hypothetical, devised, visual poem, visionary capacity, meaning-maker, encoding, journey, performance.
Essay on the future of writing-reading is a knowledge generator in the tradition of Ramon Llull and under the spirit of the poem/process of Wlademir Dias-Pino. It is formed by a visual sonnet that encrypts in each line the imagination of creators and practitioners of writing such as calligraphers, programmers, book artists and poets, also called Imaginaries.
This essay is a process that writes itself when it is played, under the interventions, opinions, organic mistakes of the participants and the diverse 'Imaginaries'.
During each iteration of the essay, we explore a curatorial line about the subject on the future of writing-reading. For this edition, we will explore what writing means for thought, meditation and synchronicities as we walk induced by a mobile experience.
The experience is divided into two moments, a small presentation about the subjects and playing of the sonnet (device).
Essay on the future of writing-reading was inspired on Gabriel Zaid Book "La máquina de cantar" (1967) where he speculates on the creation of a sonnet by automatic, mechanical means. He argues that, despite the enormous number of combinations calculated to compose this monstrous poem, literature is not there—because it requires a reader. Zaid thus alludes to the unique and subjective experience of the reader-writer and the writer-programmer. He writes: “To read a poem is to write it. However, writing it for the first time [‘creating the master program’] is not the same as continuing to write it each time it is read.” (p. 26)
Imaginaries that are hosted in the device: Johana Drucker, Rodolfo Mata, Sara Raca, Andre Vallias, Claudio Mangifesta, Cesar Cortéz Vega, Tina Escaja, Mariana Roa, Anuar Zúñiga, Alex Saum-Pascual, Ann Mertens, Guido de Boer, Susana Santoyo, Rafaél Pérez y Pérez, Rui Torre, José Aburto and Eugenio Tisselli.
Previous iterations of the essay:
- 'Essays on writing-reading: some possible futures' With Mónica Nepote, Lola Langarica, Urayoan Noel and Nick Montfort. At the Seventh Elsa Cross Ibero-American Poetry Colloquium. Universidad Claustro de Sor Juana, October 9
- 'Essays on writing-reading: thought simulators' Seminar for writing and reading culture at UAI. Unesco Cerlalc. [online] November 25.
- 'Essays on writing-reading: strategies and devices for imagination' III International Conference on Visual Poetry. Perú - México [online] December 3"
Bibliography:
-
Drucker, J. (2014). Graphesis: Visual forms of knowledge production. Harvard University Press.
-
Mitchell, M. (2020). Artificial intelligence: A guide for thinking humans. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
-
Bertram, L.-Y., & Montfort, N. (Eds.). (2024). Output: An anthology of computer-generated text, 1953–2023. MIT Press.
-
Sharples, M., & Pérez y Pérez, R. (2022). Story machines: How computers have become creative writers. Routledge.
-
Zaid, G. (1967). La máquina de cantar. Siglo XXI Editores.
-
Padín, C. (2007, 8 de abril). Poema/Proceso: 40 años. Escáner Cultural. https://revista.escaner.cl/node/278.html
Essay on the future of writing-reading: thought, meditation and synchronicities
Algorithms & Imaginaries
Experimental essay. 40 min
Keywords : experimental essay, evolving textual practices, hypothetical, devised, visual poem, visionary capacity, meaning-maker, encoding, journey, performance.
Essay on the future of writing-reading is a knowledge generator in the tradition of Ramon Llull and under the spirit of the poem/process of Wlademir Dias-Pino. It is formed by a visual sonnet that encrypts in each line the imagination of creators and practitioners of writing such as calligraphers, programmers, book artists and poets, also called Imaginaries.
This essay is a process that writes itself when it is played, under the interventions, opinions, organic mistakes of the participants and the diverse 'Imaginaries'.
During each iteration of the essay, we explore a curatorial line about the subject on the future of writing-reading. For this edition, we will explore what writing means for thought, meditation and synchronicities as we walk induced by a mobile experience.
The experience is divided into two moments, a small presentation about the subjects and playing of the sonnet (device).
Essay on the future of writing-reading was inspired on Gabriel Zaid Book "La máquina de cantar" (1967) where he speculates on the creation of a sonnet by automatic, mechanical means. He argues that, despite the enormous number of combinations calculated to compose this monstrous poem, literature is not there—because it requires a reader. Zaid thus alludes to the unique and subjective experience of the reader-writer and the writer-programmer. He writes: “To read a poem is to write it. However, writing it for the first time [‘creating the master program’] is not the same as continuing to write it each time it is read.” (p. 26)
Imaginaries that are hosted in the device: Johana Drucker, Rodolfo Mata, Sara Raca, Andre Vallias, Claudio Mangifesta, Cesar Cortéz Vega, Tina Escaja, Mariana Roa, Anuar Zúñiga, Alex Saum-Pascual, Ann Mertens, Guido de Boer, Susana Santoyo, Rafaél Pérez y Pérez, Rui Torre, José Aburto and Eugenio Tisselli.
Previous iterations of the essay:
- 'Essays on writing-reading: some possible futures' With Mónica Nepote, Lola Langarica, Urayoan Noel and Nick Montfort. At the Seventh Elsa Cross Ibero-American Poetry Colloquium. Universidad Claustro de Sor Juana, October 9
- 'Essays on writing-reading: thought simulators' Seminar for writing and reading culture at UAI. Unesco Cerlalc. [online] November 25.
- 'Essays on writing-reading: strategies and devices for imagination' III International Conference on Visual Poetry. Perú - México [online] December 3"
Bibliography:
-
Drucker, J. (2014). Graphesis: Visual forms of knowledge production. Harvard University Press.
-
Mitchell, M. (2020). Artificial intelligence: A guide for thinking humans. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
-
Bertram, L.-Y., & Montfort, N. (Eds.). (2024). Output: An anthology of computer-generated text, 1953–2023. MIT Press.
-
Sharples, M., & Pérez y Pérez, R. (2022). Story machines: How computers have become creative writers. Routledge.
-
Zaid, G. (1967). La máquina de cantar. Siglo XXI Editores.
-
Padín, C. (2007, 8 de abril). Poema/Proceso: 40 años. Escáner Cultural. https://revista.escaner.cl/node/278.html
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/elo2026/algorithmsandimaginaries/schedule/29
Bio
Vinicius Marquet (born 1982) is a Mexico City-based artist, designer, and researcher. His work explores the intersection of digital culture, algorithms, and human interaction through electronic literature and participatory experiences.