Art + Tech Panel: Computational Literature

As computers become more like humans, do we humans become more like computers? Literature is traditionally considered a mark of humanity. However, computational literature challenges this notion. Early examples include literary texts that were automatically generated by a machine. Today, the field covers a broad variety of artistic creation and creative coding. This panel will explore the influence of computers on contemporary human writers as well as the poetics and politics of code, data, and privacy.

For more information on the panelists, please visit their websites:

• Xtine Burrough, Artist, Associate Professor in the School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication at UT Dallas
• Nick Montfort, Poet, Professor of Digital Media at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Brian Kim Stefans, Poet, Associate Professor of Literature at UCLA
• Moderator: Eran Hadas, Poet, Schusterman Visiting Israeli Artist at Caltech

This series features conversations between artists and scholars on themes related to art, science, and technology. Participants include contemporary artists and scholars from different fields, from the humanities to science and technology, who deal with similar concepts through different means. At each event, the panelists give brief presentations on their own work and participate in a facilitated discussion on the evening's theme. The panels are organized to coincide with ongoing discussions in Caltech undergraduate classes and are intended to be of general interest to Caltech faculty, students, and the community at large.

The Art + Tech Speaker Series is made possible through the support of the James Michelin Distinguished Visitors program established in 1992 to bring to Caltech "notable, innovative thinkers who will be able to spark the imagination of faculty and students alike and stimulate thought and discussion on a wide range issues," with special emphasis on the "creative interaction between science and the arts."