Accessing Asemics - Work by De Villo Sloan

[cheryl penn]

Asemic writing – it belongs to the post literate genre, right?  Free floating, mind unbound,  experimental, abstract. It hints at meaning, whilst denying specific content.   It may use visual language structures whilst negating language concepts in its illegibility.  It certainly free floats in the avant-garde, rooting itself (sometimes) in the earliest forms of writing.

This could read as a modern archaic (oppositions  I know) foundation cuneiform text – as illegible, but faintly recognizable as a writing system.

It’s a shadow writing system, right?  Shadows, images emerging out from the asemic palimpsest.   

A post-literate society is still hypothetical? But more real than we can imagine I think.  Its coming further out of the shadows each day. Its reality is growing, unchecked.

And then we have the blots. Rorschach inkblots.  Somehow there is a VERY intriguing connection between asemics and this technique.  Yes, in psychology tests involving interpretation are used, along with algorithms to determine emotional functioning and personalities – what is so different here in terms of analyzing personal writing systems? The term “ambiguous designs” certainly comes to mind.

 

And the methodology?

Free association phase – for sure!

Inquiry phase – absolutely!

It all makes cognitive sense to me.  Thank you DVS – a stimulating piece of work – absolutely FAB verb pages.

 

 

[cheryl penn]

DVS - keep taking it - its FAB :-)))

[De Villo Sloan]

I tried to expel you from the Sandpo Movement. Did I ever formally apologize? This new medicine is GREAT!

[cheryl penn]

DVS - you make me proud :-))) - was I nearly ousted from trashpo too??? I got my sandpo eviction notice - the other must have got lost in the post. Where's Bruno?

[De Villo Sloan]

Hey, you had your own problems with Trashpo as Asemic Writing. I will concede:

 

1) Randomness is not really possible

2) Nothing (art-related) is meaningless

[cheryl penn]

The 'meaning of meaning' pool :-) - its on the other side of the planet to the Toxis pool, although occasionally they lie side by side- COME! Take a deep breath and jump - the waters great - warm - as in - you know the Meaning of warm???? :-)))

[De Villo Sloan]

You can't lure me into the "meaning of meaning" pool! Not yet. I like what you say though - asemic writing is about styles and signatures - I think very much so. Extend that also to - Artists have their own vocabulary of images. I was looking at your "WIndmills" - what a marriage of writing and images. The emerging IUOMA brand of asemic writing is certainly nothing like handwriting exercises - good penmanship classes. People are bringing in everything! You have to admit, it's pretty great. When John Bennett first posted pieces of wood on asphalt as asemic writing, I was as confused as everyone else. But I knew I had to come to terms with it.

[cheryl penn]

I have to say - its not meaning-less? Personally, like most 'signatures', one gets to RECOGNIZE the various individuals  asmemics? A personal visual script which has not been TAUGHT - such as cursive/print. But still bearing its owners imprint. Sure, as we grow we mold our writing styles, so we may do here too, but these fragile beginnings - they will always be the special ones :-)

[De Villo Sloan]

Yes, and I don't know with dream research, do we dream in language or images? Probably both. With asemic writing you have this strange half-language. I can't believe the semiotic people haven't looked at it more. It is a case where the signifier and signified are truly disconnected, or truly language about language? And to address a theme you are exploring: MEANING. Humans are meaning-makers. Asemic writing curiously thwarts the desire to impart meaning? Interesting stuff. I know personally it's resulting in all this unconscious material emerging. Even the TOXIS Pool. It's leading to unusual things in your work too.

[cheryl penn]

Anything intrinsically within - it will out? I think its wired, for sure.

[De Villo Sloan]

When all this started - and you were very kind to partner with me to start the IUOMA asemic writing group - I couldn't have guessed at the directions it would take, the kind of thing people would post. I didn't think asemic writing had any strong psychological connection. It sure seems to. Language-making makes humans unique on the planet and it's wired into our biology? Asemic writing is very dreamlike for one thing. In a dream you might come across some strange writing you can't decipher and puzzle over it. People are finding asemic writing on stones and wood in the world. You can find it in your dreams and deep somewhere in your mind too.