Week 2-Automatism

Automatism is spontaneous, impulsive behavior that forgoes concentrated thought in favor of improvisation based on instinct.  It is free association.  The absence of control.  Or at least, that's the best descriptor I could come up with without copying from wikipedia or the dictionary.  I'd like to say it's "voluntary Tourette's Syndrome for artists" but without knowing a ton about that particular disorder, I'm sure drawing that comparison is somehow offensive.

The assignment for this week has "Cut-up technique" specifically singled out.  The cut-up technique involves taking a completed text, physically dissecting it, and then reassembling the pieces in a new configuration that alters the meaning of the original.  Is this where the concept of Mad Libs came from?

Visual examples of cut-up technique.

William Burroughs credits Brion Gysin as the first person to work with the cut-up technique.  Gysin discovered his method by rearranging the scraps of newspapers he'd been using as a cutting mat to form new texts.

My attempt at the cut-up technique was more along the lines of clipping and rearranging texts, as opposed to spontaneous, free form improvisation: