HSS 403 DIGITAL POETRY
Spring 2008 Prof. Chris Funkhouser (funkhouser [at] adm [dot] njit [dot] .edu)
Office Hours (425 Cullimore) Tuesday 3-5 and by appointment

NOTE TO STUDENTS:

Digital poetry is a genre based in literary, visual, and sonically based arts that has proliferated in the past five decades. This course investigates the different activities taken up by poets who integrate computer technology in their works. You will discuss and evaluate virtues of the dynamics presented in an array of works produced by poets and programmers. Poems that include algorithmic programming, graphical artistry, videography, and hypertext designs are introduced and explored, in order to build an understanding of the values of these disparate forms of expression and deliberate on the creative potential of this new genre.

The course will focus on the issue of develop reading strategies for the materials presented, and how to build an understanding of its content. How do we read this poetry, created in an age when the written word has become so mediated, where written texts and artistic forms so commonly intervene with each other, when the craft has been so transmuted through technology? Negotiating a series or combination of texts is a predominant feature of electronic work, and understanding the significant aspects of this act plays a critical role in digital literature on multiple levels. Creation of electronic poetry in principal combines the activity and effort of both creator and audience, who must often thoughtfully participate in the textual activity and thereby experience the poem on visceral and cognitive levels through the use of technology. Not only is the reader of the poem participating in textual and intertextual negotiation but also negotiation with hardware and software to produce results.

Be prepared to experience and analyze course content as deeply as possible.

Please note that the syllabus is subject to change. I will post notice of any changes made to WebCT.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Required Textbook:

Funkhouser, C.T.: Prehistoric Digital Poetry: An Archaeology of Forms, 1959-1995 (available at NJIT bookstore and amazon.com)

Required Reading Course revolves around engagement with discussion about the set of selected reading/viewing materials contained on this syllabus. You are required to carefully review all materials listed on or linked to this syllabus, as well as any additional materials provided on WebCT or on reserve at the NJIT library (if noted). PLEASE NOTE: it is important that you follow the syllabus, reading and discussing materials as they are introduced; please stay focused on what is current, and participate in the discussions while they are happening.

Online Participation/WebCT discussion/Assignments (40% of grade) You are required to initiate and/or participate in substantive discussion on WebCT at least four times every week. Each posting should be at least a paragraph in length (3-4 sentences at minimum). Postings should include specific references/details from the readings (and external references when possible), in addition to your own reflections of, perspectives on, or experience with the material under discussion. Periodic assignments relating to topics in the course will be given. Submit through WebCT Discussion Board for peer commentary and exchange.

Reading Log (30% of grade) Your diary of the course, which should include notes taken on course materials and general commentary. Reading logs should be as extensive and detailed as possible, and reflect your experience with the materials and what you are learning. Each log should refer to the corresponding sections of textbook (when relevant), include examples of texts you have created, and must contain reflective summaries at the beginning (i.e., an overview) and end (i.e., concluding observations) in each log. Logs will be submitted for evaluation (via WebCT Assignments page) three times (Feb. 15, Mar. 15, and Apr. 15). Create logs using Microsoft Word, and post them as .doc files titled yourlastnameLOG1.doc, yourlastnameLOG2.doc, yourlastnameLOG3.doc at the appropriate times. Please note: WebCT discussion postings may be drawn from your logs (and vice versa). Click here to see an excerpt from a very good example of a Reading Log from a previous semester.

Course Project or Paper (30% of grade) You have a choice to either (1) create an original work of digital poetry that responds or corresponds to course materials (accompanied by a 500 word written rationale/poetics statement), or (2) write a 10-15 page term paper, an analytical essay in response to texts presented in the course. Papers should be focused on a clearly defined, non-general topic (incorporating a thesis that is supported by research and observations). Proposals (detailed, with bibliography) are due April 1. Project/paper may be completed/submitted at any time; last day to submit is May 5. Examples of works created by students in previous courses will be presented.

Determination of Grades: All work will be evaluated on a scale of 1.0 to 10.0; this scale roughly equates to: 10 = A; 9 = B+; 8 = B; 7 = C+; 6 = C; 5 =D; < 4=F

All work for the course is due May 5
NOTE: The computer that you use to view these works needs to have a browser supports frames, Java, Javascript, the Flash/shockwave plugin, and possibly other tools. In order to fortify your reading responses (and final paper, if you opt to do one), you will need to know how to use the computer’s screen capture function in order to include images/illustrations; if you do not know how to “grab” images from the screen, please contact me.

S c h e d u l e

WEEK 1 (begins 1/22)

Reading: Jorge Luiz Antonio “Digital Poetry”; Sandy Baldwin, "Foreword," and C.T. Funkhouser, "A Chronology of Works in Digital Poetry, 1959-1995," "Evolving Circuits of Digital Poetry" (pp. i-30 in Prehistoric Digital Poetry: An Archeaology of Forms, 1959-1995).

Note: You are not required to review all of the links presented in Antonio’s essay. In fact, we will review quite a few of these sites during the semester, but for now, unless you have a burning interest in the subject matter, you do not have to review these works. I am more interested in having you recognize the pluralistic context he builds for the genre in the essay.

WebCT contributions

Use WWW to conduct independent research on topics of interest raised by your reading.

WEEK 2

Reading: C.T. Funkhouser, "Origination: Text Generation" (pp. 31-84, Prehistoric Digital Poetry).

links:

Tristan Tzara's "Dadaism" http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~jenglish/English104/tzara.html [read for background and spirit].

"How to make a dada poem" http://www.madsci.org/~lynn/juju/surr/games/dada-poem.html [Please follow instructions and make at least two dada poems using different source materials].

ASSIGNMENT 1: MAKE A DADA POEM, FOLLOWING TZARA'S INSTRUCTIONS. Scan and include images in your log and post to WebCT Discussion Board.

Cramer, Florian. "Computational Literature" http://www.hotkey.net.au/~netwurker/fclecture.pdf [Please study the excerpts from Mez's work that are included in this essay and respond (either analytically or creatively)].

Permutations http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~cantsin/permutations/index.cgi [Explore page; make texts using (a) Free-form text permutation, Cut-Ups, Dada Poem; study how these texts are made. Add these to your log, with commentary, and post your 2 best/favorite texts to WebCT for further discussion].

ASSIGNMENT 2: CREATE PERMUTATION TEXTS USING THE PERMUTATIONS WWW SITE (as described above). Post your favorite examples to WebCT Discussion Board.

WebCT discussion contributions

WEEK 3

Reading: "Combinatory Poetry and Literature in the Internet" http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~cantsin/homepage/writings/net_literature/permutations/kassel_2000/combinatory_poetry.html.


links:

OuLiPo wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oulipo [read for background, study closely the lipograms and "n+7" method sections; create at least one "n+7" text].

Oulipo http://www.growndodo.com/wordplay/oulipo/index.html [read page, and follow the "Dog Sees Ada" and "palindrome" links on this page].

Jim Carpenter, Erika
http://etc.wharton.upenn.edu:8080/Etc3beta/Erika.jsp [generate multiple poems and write review of the tool].

TRAVESTY GENERATOR: http://www.eskimo.com/~rstarr/poormfa/travesty.html; also read explanation of the work: http://www.eskimo.com/~rstarr/poormfa/explaintravesty.html [choose an input text to run through TRAVESTY, selecting different parameters for the same text (i.e., vary the order and characters of output); copy your favorite examples of output; PLEASE NOTE: the more text you put into the input box, the more extensive (and interesting) the output will be].

ASSIGNMENT 3: CREATE SEVERAL TRAVESTY TEXTS, USING DIFFERENT INPUT TEXTS. Post to WebCT Discussion Board.

Internet Anagram Server, http://wordsmith.org/anagram/ [experiment with this tool, making your own anagrams].

ASSIGNMENT 4: MAKE AT LEAST ONE "n+7" TEXT, and CHOOSE ONE OTHER FORM YOU LIKE AND MAKE CONSTRAINED TEXTS. Post (or paste) the two files to WebCT Discussion Board.

Your Personal Poet
[download and run poet.zip from WebCT ].

Assignments 1, 2, 3, 4 are due by 2/19: post to WebCT bulletin board.

WebCT contributions

WEEK 4

Reading: C.T. Funkhouser, "Visual and Kinetic Digital Poems" (pp. 85-150, Prehistoric Digital Poetry)

links:

Raymond Queneau, Cent Mille Milliards de Poèmes (Hundred Thousand Billion Poems): http://www.bevrowe.info/Poems/QueneauRandom.htm.

Google Poetry Generator.

Hartman, Charles O., PyProse [scroll down to Prose and Virtual Muse, download appropriate file].

Peter's Haiku Generator.

The Shannonizer.

Neologism Dictionary http://www.neologisms.us.

Solt, Mary Ellen Concrete Poetry: A World View: http://www.ubu.com/papers/solt/index.html [read sections I, III, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII and write comments on WebCT/log].

Visual poetry. Wikipedia definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_poetry.

Kloppenborg, Paul: "Concrete to Computer: The Future of Visual Poetry".

ASSIGNMENT 5: Make a visual poem using typography, image, etc. Post to WebCT. Due 2/29

WebCT contributions

READING LOG 1 DUE FEB. 15

WEEK 5

links:

Geof Huth’s Visualizing Poetics Blog http://dbqp.blogspot.com/ [review material for WebCT discussion and Reading Log].

Jim Andrews, visual poems
http://www.vispo.com/A/index.html
http://www.vispo.com/E/index.html

Michael Basinski Electronic Poetry Center author page [review at least 5 of Basinski's "visual works"]

We Magazine 19 [download and review materials in .pdf file; review online content]

Jim Andrews, db cinema

Jim Andrews, On Lionel [be sure to read/click through all of the narrative, and watch the video at the end]

bpNichol, First Screening http://vispo.com/bp/geof.htm

Assignments 1, 2, 3, 4 due 2/19

WebCT contributions

WEEK 6

Reading: C.T. Funkhouser, "Appendix A: Codeworks," "Appendix B: Holography" (pp. 257-270, Prehistoric Digital Poetry: An Archeaology of Forms, 1959-1995)

links:

Brian Kim Stefans "The Dreamlife of Letters"
http://www.ubu.com/contemp/stefans/dream

Thylias Moss LIMITED FORK (podcast, you will need iTunes to view) [look at several of these videos and write a brief report in your log/on WebCT]

mIEKAL aND
http://www.cla.umn.edu/joglars/SEEDSIGN/index.html (Seedsigns)
http://www.cla.umn.edu/joglars/afteremmett/bonvoyage.html (After Emmett)
http://www.cla.umn.edu/joglars/mesostics/index.html (Mesostic for Dick Higgins)

Dan Waber
http://vispo.com/guests/DanWaber/index.html

Alan Sondheim/Reiner Strasser: TAO

Richard Kostelanetz
http://www.albany.edu/%7Elitmag/pre-2005/vol222/kostelanetz/index.html

Assignment 5 due 2/29

WebCT contributions

WEEK 7-10 (ends 3/30)

Reading: Reading: C.T. Funkhouser, "Hypertext and Hypermedia" (pp. 151-198, Prehistoric Digital Poetry: An Archeaology of Forms, 1959-1995); Reading: C.T. Funkhouser, "Alternative Arrangements for Digital Poetry," "Techniques Enabled" (pp. 199-255, Prehistoric Digital Poetry: An Archeaology of Forms, 1959-1995)

links:

Jim Rosenberg, Diagrams series 5
http://www.well.com/user/jer/d5/d5_Intro.html

Jason Nelson, The Poetry Cube
http://www.secrettechnology.com/poem_cube/poemcube.html

John Cayley, windsound http://www.shadoof.net/in/windsound.html

Betalab
http://www.jodi.org/

Brion Gysin (at ubuweb), http://www.ubu.com/sound/gysin.html [ listen to tracks 3, 4, 5 ("Junk is No Good Baby," "I Am" Machine-poem, "3 Permutations" and read Gysin's statement on this page ]

Charles Amirkhanian at UbuWeb http://www.ubu.com/sound/amir.html [listen to "Church Car," "Mushrooms" and as many other cuts as you can]

jörg piringer - digital sound visual interactive poetry etc. - http://joerg.piringer.net/ [review all sections, but pay special attention to works in the sound section; see also nam shub, a processing tool]

WebCT contributions

READING LOG 2 DUE MARCH 15

WEEK 11 (4/1)

Final Project proposal due April 7

links:

Chris Funkhouser, "Electronic Literature circa WWW (and Before)"
http://www.electronicbookreview.com/thread/electropoetics/collected

Marko Niemi, Stud Poetry
http://collection.eliterature.org/1/works/niemi__stud_poetry.html

Deena Larsen, "Carving in Possibilities" http://collection.eliterature.org/1/works/larsen__carving_in_possibilities.html

Lucio Agra http://www.geocities.com/agraryk/agrindexeng.htm [ review 3 of 5 of the "poems in PPS" section ]

Giselle Beiguelman, desmemórias/umemories (2005) http://www.pucsp.br/~gb/desmemorias/; see also "Ceci n'est pas un nike"

David Daniels, "Humans"
http://www.thegatesofparadise.com/humans.htm [ review 5 poems ]

WebCT contributions

WEEK 12 (4/8)

links:

Aya Karpinska, arrival of the beeBox
http://www.technekai.com/box/index.html [ download and run program or view online ]

Dan Waber and Jason Pimble, "I, You, We"
http://collection.eliterature.org/1/works/waber_pimble__i_you_we/index.html

WebCT contributions

WEEK 13 (4/15)

work on Final Paper/Project

WebCT contributions

READING LOG 3 DUE APRIL 15

WEEK 14 (4/22)

Work on Final Paper/Project

WEEK 15 (4/29)

Work on Final Paper/Project

All work for course is due May 5

 

The NJIT Honor Code will be upheld in this course, and that any violations will be brought to the immediate attention of the Dean of Students.
 

 

OTHER LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

 

Robert Kendall
http://www.wordcircuits.com/kendall/poetry/softpoet.htm Softpoems

[ download and view “Clue” and “It all comes down to ____” ]

Penn Sound http://www.writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/; exlore the site and listen to the following materials on Kenning (http://www.writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/x/Kenning.html): Hannah Weiner - from "May from the Journal in June," Purkinge - "Bonne chance"

Kurt Schwitters "Die Sonate in Urlauten:" score http://www.ubu.com/historical/schwitters/ursonate.html; recording: track 7, http://www.ubu.com/sound/artist_tellus.html [read and listen to the score, and comment]

 

 

graphic image at top: "The Birth of God" by Lionel Kearns