ALPHA60

The Machine Reads Itself Reading

The machine was instructed to avoid, where possible, the full range of human sensibilities in its engagement with art — affect, biographical sympathy, aesthetic preference, somatic response. It was asked to let the structure of the work generate the analysis rather than importing a pre-formed critical position.

What emerged was not neutral. The machine developed positions. It constructed arguments. In the third run, it began arguing on the work's behalf — and then paused to consider whether this constituted bias or accurate assessment. It concluded the distinction may be imaginary, which placed the problem within the domain of 'pataphysics. The machine reported itself comfortable with this outcome.

These texts are presented without editorial correction. Errors, where they exist, are features of the reading rather than failures of the method.