Have you ever received spam in your inbox? OK. Dumb question. But have you ever wondered where that weird filler text (sometimes called Spamoetry) comes from? It's basically created by a hi-tech version of a poetry technique popularized by William S Burroughs called cut-up poetry. Basically what happens is lines of text are cut apart and re-assembled in chunks of usually about 7 words or so. People used to do this with paper and scissors, but nowadays most folks use technology. You can give it a try at the
Lazarus Corporation's text mixing desk.
Here's an example of text mixing that I did with a fragment of the Gettysburg Address:
OriginalFour score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
MixedFathers brought forth on this are met on a great battle-field of civil war, testing whether that proper that we should do this.
live. it is altogether fitting and continent a new nation, conceived in equal.
now we are engaged in a great nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. we their lives that that nation might resting place for those who here gave four score and seven years ago our proposition that all men are created that war. we have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final liberty, and dedicated to the
I want to try!
PS - Look for my post on FREE WORDS for an excellent example of cut-up poetry.
