Essay on the future of writing-reading: thought, meditation and synchronicities

Presenter Information

• Vinicius Marquet, National University Autonomous of MexicoFollow

Proposal Type

Experimental Track

Location

Algorithms & Imaginaries

Start Date

17-7-2026 4:45 PM

End Date

17-7-2026 8:30 PM

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
  
  
  

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.