Donnerstag, 8. Oktober 2020 | Thursday, October 8, 2020
18:00–18:20 Screening
18:20–19:00 Discussion

Abstract
Computer-generated literature is emerging as a global community of practice, with author/programmers who are increasingly aware of each other’s work. Many participate in the annual online event NaNoGenMo (National Novel Generation Month), although there are other contexts, including small press publication, for computer-generated books. I consider the present state of computer-generated literary books, both digital and print, and discuss trends ranging from “nanoscale” programs to the use of cutting-edge language technologies within elaborately architected systems. I also describe connections to visual poetry, conceptual writing, and other literary movements and directions.

Nick Montfort studies creative computing and develops computational art and poetry. He has eight computer-generated literary print books, including #!, the collaboration 2×6, Autopia, and The Truelist, with Golem forthcoming. His digital projects include the collaborations The Deletionist and Sea and Spar Between. Montfort is author of The Future% and the forthcoming Exploratory Programming for the Arts and Humanities, Second Edition.%% He is professor of digital media at MIT and directs the Trope Tank there. He lives in New York.