What is it about?
In this article for The Journal of Writing in Creative Practice I explore the use of randomisation and chance in writing. The physical aspect of the cut-up poem developed in the Dada art movement is central and I foreground agency through the increased materiality of the 'monteur' process.
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Why is it important?
This article attempts to first speculate and then demonstrate how Dada methods can be used by creative practitioners or writers in general within an academic essay. In particular, the inclusion of randomness and chance is examined in the writing process with a view to foreground materiality in writing development and execution. Methods to make use of chance and to randomize text are outlined and the distinction between randomness and chance is clearly drawn.
Perspectives
There is an emphasis in this article on materiality and developing voice through an informed editing process. I hope that creatives especially will appreciate the potential of the methods discussed here and bring them into a writing practice.
Dr Michael Eden
University of the Arts London
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Randomness and chance as writing methodology: Is there a case for Dada in the academic essay?, Journal of Writing in Creative Practice, January 2021, Intellect,
DOI: 10.1386/jwcp_00015_1.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Breaking into and Out of Academic Writing
The case study in this paper is based on an event Breaking into and Out of Academic Writing. In: Who Do We Think We Are? An Academic Support event, 6-12 December 2019, at Central Saint Martins.
Randomness and chance as writing methodology: Is there a case for Dada in the academic essay?
Link to the article.
Contributors
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