Silliman's Blog

For decades now, the international community of electronic writers has been expanding the notion of what constitutes literature. Operating in circles as seemingly disparate as the academic community and the world of video game design, electronic writers have been producing award-winning and ground-breaking works that have re-defined our literary world. This conference, to be held at the University of Pennsylvania’s Kelly Writers House and the Slought Foundation galleries, offers Philadelphia a concentrated yet personal method for checking this stuff out.

Thursday, October 26

1:00 - 2:30 PM in the Arts Cafe: DISCUSSION
A conversation about writing and literature in the digital age, featuring:

Charles Bernstein (University of Pennsylvania)
Jena Osman (Temple University)
Bob Perelman (University of Pennsylvania)
Ron Silliman (Silliman's Blog)

2:30 - 5:30 PM: OPEN MACHINE OPEN HOUSE
Electronic literature available for reading and discussion throughout the downstairs area, with guided tours at 3:30pm and 4:30pm. Electronic literature is accessible on computers for interaction and reading throughout the first floor of the Writers House.

3:30 and 4:30 PM: "GUIDED TOURS"
of selected works by Electronic Literature Collection, vol 1 editors:

Stephanie Strickland
Nick Montfort

4:00 - 5:30 PM in the Dining Room: WET DIGITS WORKSHOP
An introductory digital writing workshop for newcomers to HTML, led by Nick Montfort (University of Pennsylvania). RSVP required. Contact wh@writing.upenn.edu to reserve a place.

5:30 - 7:30 PM in the Arts Cafe: READINGS & PRESENTATIONS
of Electronic Literature Collection contributors. Special Guests include:

Mary Flanagan (Hunter College)
Aya Karpinska (Brown University)
Stuart Moulthrop (University of Baltimore)
Noah Wardrip-Fruin (University of California, San Diego)
Aaron Reed (Salt Lake City)

Friday, October 27

10:30 - 11:30 AM at Slought Foundation: TOUR OF THE SLOUGHT FOUNDATION
Slought Foundation broadly encourages new futures for contemporary life through public programs featuring international artists and theorists. Guided by: Aaron Levy (Slought Foundation Executive Director)

1:00 - 4:00 PM in Room 202: ELECTRONIC WRITING JAM
With LOCAL and REMOTE participants. New digital work will be composed and implemented on the spot! Writers will have a chance to informally discuss the forms, techniques, and technologies they use.

Hosted by: Jim Carpenter (University of Pennsylvania) Daniel C. Howe (Brown University) Brian Kim Stefans (Richard Stockton College of New Jersey)

With remote guests: N. Katherine Hayles (University of California, Los Angeles) Marjorie Luesebrink (Irvine Valley College) Jason Nelson (Griffith University) Scott Rettberg (University of Bergen, Norway)

RSVP required. Contact wh@writing.upenn.edu to reserve a place.

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The Kelly Writers House
3805 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104