Sukanya Aneja
What is a programming language, and what can it be? What does a programming language that is not imbued with values of efficiency, utility and terseness look like? Can a poem be a program? Can code be as compelling as the artifact it attempts to create? in:verse is an experiment and exploration to answer these questions.
Description
Programming languages are associated with utility and purpose, but for decades, programmers have been exploring the bounds and definitions of programming languages through the creation of impractical, whimsical and absurd languages — designed not for their utility value, but rather the experience they propose. Much like the constraints and rules that writers and poets use to fuel creativity, these “esoteric” languages present constraints that create space for different kinds of thinking. And similar to software and net artists' explorations of interweaving code and poetry, esoteric languages posit new ways of examining the communication between humans and machines.
Inspired by this rich history, in:verse is a programming language and development environment with embedded values that stand in opposition to the languages we are accustomed to. It is an experiment in engaging a broader audience in the speculations of what a programming language can be — going beyond what we take for granted; and the start of a personal exploration into looking at the design of languages as a craft and practice in itself.
In in:verse, poetry is code, random chance is valued more than precision, and telling a story is valued more than succinct, terse code.
The language is intended for the purpose of creating visuals — the code compiles (or is translated to) a language called GLSL, which is used to write shaders — small programs used for coloring pixels. Mathematical functions are replaced with words chosen by the writer, or programmatically extracted from a given body of text. Numbers are described through specific sentence structures. Randomness prevents a program from crashing. A writer can effortlessly “shuffle” the programmatic meaning of words, yielding entirely different results from the same piece of poetry.
in:verse encourages writers to build a world in their minds as they write programs; to indulge in the practice of constraint-based writing; to explore new modes of collaboration; to forgo the need for speed and efficiency; and to embrace uncertainty and a lack of control.
Classes
Thesis Part 2: Production
Presentation Video
http://inverse.website