Poetic Computation

This class is an introduction to both the philosophy and practices of Computational Poetics as a subset of new media art. Together we will explore existing works and artists in the field, build ways of critically engaging with applications of modern technologies such as ChatGPT and other generative algorithms, and learn to build our own poetic web spaces using HTML and Javascript.

This class will meet every other week on Zoom to discuss readings, share experiments, and co-create understandings of our tools and technologies. Your presence and robust participation in our virtual meetings is a core component of the course, and will help foster a sense of intellectual community that is essential to engaging in this kind of critical and artistic expression. You will be expected to experiment with tools outside of class, and share your ideas, your work, and your questions during our meetings.

The culmination of this class will be the creation of a computationally poetic piece in HTML and JS to be hosted online. Using other tools/frameworks to create your final project is open for consideration as well, with the requirement of available online documentation of the work.

There will be 3-4 in-person sessions where we will have field learning experiences, such as visiting the SF MOMA, the Computer History Museum, and having in-person demonstrations/presentations of our work.

Introductory experience with programming is suggested, but not required.

  UC Approved: Interdisciplinary   

About the Instructor

Leia S. Chang (they/them) – Lick-Wilmerding High School

Mx. Chang (they/them) is an artist, educator, and creative technologist. They teach creative code and electronics at Lick Wilmerding High School, focusing on accessible curriculum and critical engagement. In their artistic work, Leia explores creative fabrication, materiality, and poetic tech.