Workshop 1: London

4D, London, UK

February 14, 2022

The first Infinite Genesis workshop was held in London on Valentine’s Day 2022.

Taking inspiration from Ross Gay‘s series of poems titled The Syndromes participants were asked to create unusual imaginary syndromes and we then used AI to modify, expand, repeat and enhance what was written.

Here is an AI enhanced syndrome written by one of the participants and subjected to Infinite Genesis:

The Syndromes: Compulsive Wikipedia Syndrome 

Compulsive Wikipedia Syndrome is the incapability of the subject to encounter any concept, theory, or cultural artifact without immediately reading its associated Wikipedia page. 

Onset is typically in the late teens, and manifests initially with the researching of favoured 
subjects, but may rapidly progress to include indiscriminate Googling of any and every topic.

The syndrome is often accompanied by a compulsive need to contribute to Wikipedia pages, regardless of the quality or accuracy of the information. This can result in a proliferation of erroneous and poorly written articles, as well as edit wars between competing factions.

In its most advanced form, the subject becomes completely reliant on Wikipedia as their sole source of information, and is unable to think, read, or speak without first consulting the online encyclopedia. This can have a serious impact on their social, academic, and professional life, as well as their mental health.

There is no known cure for Compulsive Wikipedia Syndrome, but treatment is typically focused on helping the subject wean themselves off of Wikipedia and regain their ability to think and learn independently.

Related syndromes: 

Compulsive Google Syndrome
Compulsive Encyclopedia Syndrome

Treatment: 

There is no known cure for Compulsive Wikipedia Syndrome, but treatment is typically focused on helping the subject wean themselves off of Wikipedia and regain their ability to think and learn independently. This may include therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, or medications such as antidepressants.

If you know someone who is suffering from Compulsive Wikipedia Syndrome, be supportive and understanding. Help them to find resources and treatments that can help them manage the condition.

Earlier in the workshop everyone was asked to list 10 items that interested them. We then used a variety of methods to enhance and decay the lists into poems. Here is one participant reading their resulting poem:

And here was what the AI made of another participant’s list when asked to use the list as ingredients for a recipe:

Nipple
Apple
Chain
H.D.
Mina Loy
Moon
Mars
Lloyds Bank
Qixi Festival
Ovaries
Tubes
Frank O'Hara
Masturbation
Pear

Method:

1.  Pierce an apple with a chain, and suspend it from the ceiling.
2.  Imagine you are nipple.
3.  Touch yourself in the ways that feel good.
4.  Think about Mars and the Moon and how they orbit each other.
5.  Masturbate.
6.  When you feel like you're close to orgasm, think about Lloyds Bank and the Qixi Festival.
7.  Let yourself go.
8.  Enjoy the afterglow.
9.  Repeat as necessary.