The computer poetry of J. M. Coetzee's early programming career
7 days ago
- #Digital Archives
- #Literature
- #Computer Programming
- J. M. Coetzee, a Nobel Prize-winning writer, had an early career as a computer programmer from 1962 to 1965.
- Coetzee wrote 'computer poetry' using algorithms on the Atlas 2 supercomputer, blending programming with creative writing.
- His programming work, including poetry generation in machine code, FORTRAN, and pseudocode, has been largely overlooked by scholars.
- Research at the Ransom Center uncovered Coetzee's digital archives, offering insights into his use of computing in his literary career.
- The study raises questions about reading and preserving digital literature, highlighting the intersection of technology and creative writing.