Methods xpub

In this series of workshops we concentrate on methods of annotation and text analysis which help us research this trimester's Special Issue. Each session has a specific outcome.

Trim 1: SI28 Writing Machines–Protocols–Feedback

During Special Issue 28 the bi-weekly methods classes will focus on reading, note taking & documentation practice:

• Reading texts relevant to the current Special Issue (reading groups);
• Group discussion to establish a common vocabulary and set of references to work from;
• Establishing an annotation, note taking and documentation practice;
• Conducting a literature survey (personal reader): collect texts for personal reader related to SI and personal interests.
• Editorial work (publication): use rough drafts to develop your ideas further (through copy-editing, rewriting and peer review).

Class schedule + focus of each methods class: https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/Writing_Machines%E2%80%93Protocols%E2%80%93Feedback

Our notes: Writing_Machines_Notebook

Week 0: 17-09-2025

11:00 - 11:45 Intro round: how, what and why we annotate?

12:00 - 12:30 Intro to Methods: the year && Trim 1

12:30 - 13:00 Intro to first annotation exercise in 3 groups

13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 - 15:00 Annotation exercise

Uncreative Writing, Managing Language in the Digital Age (2011), - Introduction (p.1-14), Kenneth Goldsmith
Postprint (2021) – Introducing Postprint, N. Katherine Hayles
Writing Machines (2002) - Technotexts and Media Specific Analysis – N. Katherine Hayles

15:00 - 16:00 Reconvene and discuss exercise

What is your key take away from this text?
Which method(s) of annotation did you use? Why these?
How did they help you understand the text?
Which aspects of the exercise did you struggle with the most?

16:00 - 16:45 Discuss how to approach annotating and reading together, (groups (size? ppl?) and methods (when to read (beforehand or during class?), when and how to annotate)

16:45 - 17:00 Closing the day -> homework: starting your personal reader on the wiki. Reading the texts chosen by your reading group! (we'll discuss personal readers next class, 01-10!)

Personal reader examples from previous year (wiki):

• https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/User:Senka/Notes_Thoughts_and_Annotations
• https://pzwiki.wdka.nl/mediadesign/User:Thijshijsijsjss/Gossamery

(Personal) readers as pdf:

• https://hub.xpub.nl/bootleglibrary/book/895
• https://hub.xpub.nl/bootleglibrary/book/910
• https://hub.xpub.nl/bootleglibrary/book/911

Week 2: 01-10-2025

11:00 - 13:00 Show & tell of past projects and interests

13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 - 14:30 How to start your personal reader and intro qualitative research and role of annotation

14:30 - 15:30 (Small) group annotation (summary + evaluation + interpretation) of 2 or 3 of the following texts:

ALL TEXTS (except Perec) CAN BE FOUND IN 'Oulipo: A Primer of Potential Literature' IN THE BOOTLEG LIBRARY! (which is currently down :'( but I shared the link to a pdf on Zulip)

Harry Mathews – Liminal Poem to Martin Gardner (c1960s)
Michael Winkler – Where Signs Resemble Thoughts (c1960s)
Raymond Queneau – A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems (1961) Here is one attempt at an online version: https://www.bullfrog117.com/school/one-hundred-thousand-billion-poems.php
Raymond Queneau –A Story as You Like It (1967) (HTML approximation here: https://www.thing.de/projekte/7:9%23/queneau_9.html)
Paul Fournel – The Theatre Tree: A Combinatory Play
Marcel Benabou – Rule of Constraint (c. 1984)
Georges Perec – The Art of Asking your Boss for a Raise (see XPUB1 methods on Zulip for epub)

15:30 - 16:30 Discussion of the annotations in small groups (as per suggestion last time)

16:30 - 17:00 Wrapping up the day!

Homework for next class: add collective annotations documentation to the wiki && start your personal reader (with a text of your choosing or adopt a SI28 text that resonates with you)

Week 4: 15-10-2025

>>> no reading! Reflection and documentation week!

11:00 - 12:00 Taking stock: review of Monday's discussions, identifying and annotating key points as a group.

12:00 - 12:15 Short break!

12:15 - 13:00 Order notes taken and log decisions made

13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 - 16:00 Documentation work session -> work on annotations that need more attention, add drifting and floating (paper/etherpad/marginalia/etc) annotations to the wiki.

HERE >>>> Writing_Machines_Notebook

Lost an etherpad? Find it here: Ethereal_Etherpad_Directory

16:00 - 16:30 Short intro to literature reviews (in connection to personal reader & research more generally).

16:30 - 17:00 Wrapping up

Homework for next session: read A Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin + start/continue personal reader!

Week 5: 29-10-2025

>>> reading: A Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction, Ursula Le Guin.

11:00 - 11:30 Introduction to today, a contemplation of how this text relates to writing machines.

11:30 - 12:30 A Carrier Bag of Annotations: small group (3 ppl) discussion and annotation of 'A Carrier Bag theory of Fiction'. How does this text relate to writing machines? How can this text inform methods for research and writing?

12:45 - 13:00 Each group briefly presents their key take away(s) to the other groups.

13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 - 14:30 Discussion of key take aways of each group.

14:30 - 17:00 Copy-editing workshop with example text to warm up for editorial work.

Homework: adding any dangling notes to the wiki && read/watch one of the texts of week 7.

Week 7: 12-11-2025

11:00 - 12:00 Class meeting (if needed) including discussion on editorial work needed for 19-11.

12:00 - 13:00 Individual and group editorial work on 'A_Mazing_Machine[s]: Wordscapes To Liberate Language'

BREAK

14:00 - 15:00 Continuing editorial work! The readings have been moved to November 24+26)

15:15 - 16:00 Group review of work done and open tasks and decisions, planning next steps.

16:00 - 17:00 Individual work on personal reader and closing of the day.

Week 9: 26-11-2025

11:00 - 11:30 Intro to the day

11:30 - 12:30 Discussion and annotation of AI texts in small groups (see below for list)

12:30 - 13:00 Short group discussion of key take aways from each text

13:00 - 14:00 LUNCH

14:00 - 14:30 Determining editorial tasks for SI28 publication

14:30 - 17:00 Working on texts, images, design, etc. for publication

Reading/watching:

    * Jeannette Winterton – on AI, Alternative Intelligence and Open AI's Machine Shaped Hand (2025) https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/12/jeanette-winterson-ai-alternative-intelligence-its-capacity-to-be-other-is-just-what-the-human-race-needs
   * Is Humanity Smart Enough to Survive Itself, Jeanette Winterson, https://www.ted.com/talks/jeanette_winterson_is_humanity_smart_enough_to_survive_itself/transcript
   * Open AI – A Machine-Shaped Hand (2025): https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/12/a-machine-shaped-hand-read-a-story-from-openais-new-creative-writing-model
   * Kate Crawford – Atlas of AI (2021) – Labour
   * Marta Perano & Kate Crawford, in: (re)programming Strategies for Self-Renewal (2024) – better machines for better humans
   * Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna – The AI Con (2025)– Leisure for Me, Gig Work for Thee:AI Hype at Work

Week 10: 10-12-2025

Finishing the SI28 publication and celebrating its release into the world! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

>>> Options for readings:

* All Problems of Notation will be Solved by the Masses, Simon Yuill, 2008 - https://www.metamute.org/editorial/articles/all-problems-notation-will-be-solved-masses
* Jo Freeman, The Tyranny of Structurelessness (1972)?

Trim 2: SI29

During Special Issue 29 the methods classes will focus on glossary writing (and thinking through questions of language, shared vocabulary, "academese", the (im)possibility of static definitions and more):

• Reading core theoretical texts relevant to the course and the topics discussed in the current Special Issues (reading groups);
• Group discussion to establish a common vocabulary and set of references to work from (glossary writing);
• Essayistic methodologies:
  • close reading,
  • annotation,
  • description;
• Conducting literature survey (personal reader): collect texts for personal reader related to SI and personal interest;
• Iterative drafting of texts (learning/thinking through writing): use rough drafts to develop your ideas further (through copy-editing, rewriting and peer review).

Class schedule: to be announced!

Trim 3: SI30

During Special Issue 30 the methods classes will focus on (re)writing Projects that May or May not be Made (PMOMMs) and the personal reader;

• Reading core theoretical texts relevant to you;
• Conducting literature survey (personal reader): filter what is relevant to your research and create comparative pieces of analysis;
• Iterative drafting of texts (learning/thinking through writing) through "Projects that May Or May not be Made" (PMOMMs) and personal reader:
  • developing a method of drafting texts,
  • use rough drafts to develop your ideas further (through copy-editing, rewriting and peer review)
  • structure your use of notes and references;
• Writing descriptions, analysis and contextualisation of your own (collective) practice (for personal reader and PMOMMs).

Class schedule: to be announced!

Methods resources

• Finding books, papers, journals: the library, the bootleg library: https://hub.xpub.nl/bootleglibrary/ other shadow libraries and online resources: Links_to_resources
• Documenting your work: this wiki!
• Collective writing: https://pad.xpub.nl
• Finding lost etherpad pages: Ethereal_Etherpad_Directory

Methods archive

Link to Methods archive: Methods xpub archive