Writing Machine Directory
This page is part of the Special Issue # 28 Writing Machines–Protocols–Feedback. It is provides a record of the various writing machines proposed or made during the production of that Special Issue.
Writing Machine # 1
Title: Analog Exquisite Corpse Machine (2025) by Steve Rushton
Machine overview:
Five columns of words which can slide up and down to form new sentences. A loose interpretation of the Surrealist Exquisite Corpse.
Media: Paper; Libre Office; glue; alphabet (English)
Machine output (example)
Earlier output (1925-26). The first recorded stanza using this form (by André Breton and his Surrealist friends) is recorded as: “The-exquisite-corpse-will-drink-new-wine.”
Writing Machine # 2
Title: The Writing Machine of...(2025) by Steve Rushton.
Machine overview: A reworking of The House of Dust Redux by Nick Montfort
Link:https://nickm.com/memslam/
based on a 1967 work by Alison Knowles & James Tenney
in Python 2/3
Here is an example of output generated by Alison Knowles’ House of Dust (1967)
"A HOUSE OF WOOD
UNDER WATER
USING NATURAL LIGHT
INHABITED BY FRIENDS
A HOUSE OF LEAVES
IN A METROPOLIS
USING ALL AVAILABLE LIGHTING
INHABITED BY ALL RACES OF MAN REPRESENTED WEARING PREDOMINANTLY RED CLOTHING
A HOUSE OF ROOTS
IN AN OVERPOPULATED AREA
USING ELECTRICITY
INHABITED BY HORSES AND BIRDS…
A HOUSE OF WOOD
IN A METROPOLIS
USING ELECTRICITY
INHABITED BY FRIENDS AND ENEMIES"
...and this is an example of the output from The Writing Machine of (2025)...
Output: HTML page of "self-generating poem"
Output: Code of the above (fragment)
Writing Machine # 3
Title: Barthes Radio (c. 2023) Death of the Author (1967) by Roland Barthes read by Xpub + Xpub tutors (2023)
Machine overview: Twenty-four sound files
Output (a): BarthesRadio
Output (b): Pad – text with list of readers: https://pad.xpub.nl/p/BarthesWormRadio
Writing Machine Group 3: The Interpersonal word chain (exquisite corpse)
A chain of words, starting point is a word from someones personal notes from the class
Each person sees only the word of the person before them, and picks a word from the notes they associate with the previous word The words are notated on one side of a notebook
The words are notated on one side of a notebook
The next round goes against reading direction Words can be read in increments of 5 words, but also by order of the book.
Words can be read in increments of 5 words, but also by order of the book.
Sentences can be read per 5, the number of the people in the group
- Dialectics reflect distracted by design output
- Technotext liberating language the fragile restraints generate
- Dialectics techno text reflect liberating language distracted the fragile by design restraints output generate
- Generate output restraints by design the fragile distracted language liberating reflect techno text dialectics
- special issue writes meaningfully bleeds hungrily
- Government production terminate assemblages pre-existing
- special issue government writes production meaningfully terminate bleeds assemblages hungrily pre-existing
- Pre-exising hungrily assemblages bleeds terminate meaningfully production writes government special issue
- Dialectics techno text reflect liberating language distracted the fragile by design restraints output generate special issue pre-eshisting writes assemblages meaningfully terminate bleeds production hungrily government juxtapositions
Writing Machine Group 1: Multinational Poetry Remix
Protocol:
With a group of people...
1. Pick most well-known poet from each country of origin
2. Pick most well-known poem from this poet
3. Pick first line from first verse
4. Pick first line from second verse
5. Translate these lines
6. Sort countries of origin alphabetically (English names) for the first verse
7. Mirror countries of origin for the second verse
8. Put the lines together in one new poem
Output:
Moonlight before my bed, like frost upon the floor
Do you not see, the Yellow River's waters rushing from Heaven, never to return
Who rides so late through night and wind?
I have no mother, I have no father
If my time should come, I'd like no one to entice me
-
I am but a wild animal, cut from it's kind
I haven't eaten third day
My son, why do you hide your face so anxiously?
Do you not see, before the bright mirror in the high hall, grieving over white hair
I lift my eyes to the mountain moon, then bow them, dreaming of home.
Writing Machine Group 2: Corridors to Home
Writing Machine starts when leaving WDKA building, and ends when arrived at home front door.
Every X minutes read the first word you see in public.
If no word is shown to you, that will be &.
Results:
Here hello 20 Maasveld zone.