Deconstructing code that works

Abstract

'Deconstructing Code that Works' is a practice led research project that frames theoretical critique as practice in a gallery setting. The work uses a deconstructive methodology derived from Jacques Derrida's practice of 'sous rature' to perform critique upon a particular moment in the historical formation of the field of 'codework'. The term codework was established in 2001 and attempted to describe literary works that were developed from or included elements of computer code. The taxonomy of this field, formalised by Alan Sondheim, was contested by John Cayley on the basis that non-executable work should not be included into the field as code or executable text. By bringing the thesis of this research into the gallery space the performer uses the theoretical methodology as a practical methodology to produce critical artefacts. The thesis is placed under erasure within a system that produces computational exceptions or non-executables as work. These exceptional texts are caught and handled within the gallery as a mode of production and are transformed into physical objects to be thrown into the space. The resulting exceptional texts are developed from this codework divide yet they can no longer be read along these terms.