This interactive, audio-based web poem plays out through a fictional bureaucratic phone call: “Press 4 to hear about Language Under Capitalism.” In this simulated phone call, a computer-synthesized female voice speaks out different phrases depending on the path you choose. In this project, I’m interested in what happens to language under specific sociopolitical constraints. Language under capitalism compresses itself—it minifies into lean, neat boxes fit for work and production. It does not rebel, it does not deviate; it eclipses the possibility of what could be in our relationships. For instance, we are all writing and producing language all of the time. During the work week, our writing is texts, emails, letters, these linguistic expressions are focused on labor and logistics: “Thank you, have a nice day,” or “Best regards.”
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