Comments on: Poetic Machines 05

By: W.B. Keckler

W.B. Keckler — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:13:41 +0000

Wow! I did this same thing with Rae Armantrout and A.L.I.C.E. on my blog, Joe Brainard’s Pyjamas, several months before this appeared online. In fact, I have several conversations and collaborations with A.L.I.C.E. in my forthcoming book, _Okay, But I’m Gonna Burn Down the Building_ (Six Gallery Press, 2007).
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By: julia t

julia t — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:26:09 +0000

Personally I think the New Athenian Movement is spot on. I’d like to not be sitting at my computer right now or sending text messages however the digital world has its advantages and I think the New Athenians should consider this although I agree with their opinion that is has caused a fragmented society… but I am glad that I can send an email to my grandmother in New Zealand and she can receive it that day, instead of sending it airmail or having it go on a boat and take weeks!
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By: po-po-mo-male

po-po-mo-male — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:56:54 +0000

Software is not for you. After you “launch” it, it does things you’ve asked for.
Ever heard of PERL”?”
Leave the philosophy to the pros.
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By: Pablo Honey

Pablo Honey — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:53:22 +0000

If anything, I think the example of A.L.I.C.E. justifies the agenda of The New Athenians. If you’re aim is take poetry down digital avenue, then fine. But wouldn’t this, in some profound ways, preclude our own human ability to create meaningful conversations? How we converse with our machines and vice versa is interesting, sure, but this completely misses the point of The New Athenian project. Humanity is central. By using the example of A.L.I.C.E., you’re only reminding us more of what we’re truly missing. By digitally mimicking the “experience of conversation”, A.L.I.C.E. only reminds us that we don’t need her at all, that we can in fact do what she does all on our own.
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By: Sina Queyras

Sina Queyras — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:39:14 +0000

Thanks for the post and the link, Christian. That was fun. And no less awkward than many of the human/human interactions one experiences. She even made me laugh. I posted our conversation for the record.
SQ
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By: Kenneth Goldsmith

Kenneth Goldsmith — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:18:23 +0000

Christian,
Have you ever heard of Kathy McGinty? It’s a bunch of samples that were created to interact with phone sex callers. Callers call the line, ask questions and “Kathy” responds. You can hear an x-rated (NSW!) MP3 here:
http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/BT/Kathy_McGinty.mp3
I’d love to hear “Kathy’s” response to Silliman!
Kenny
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By: Cuitlamiztli Carter

Cuitlamiztli Carter — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:58:52 +0000

Who are the New Athenians again? Do we have a list of some of their members, blogrolls, etc.? Or is this is a movement of just an unknown handful as of now? I’m genuinely curious.
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