textasmíð

Textasmíð, literally “text weaving” in Icelandic, refers to a contemporary practice in literature and digital art in which textual material is systematically assembled, rearranged, and layered to produce new works. The approach foregrounds intertextuality, texture, and the materiality of language, treating text as a woven fabric rather than a linear narrative.

Practices under textasmíð include cut-up and collage methods, constraint-based writing (such as fixed lengths, alphabetic sequences, or formal schemes), remixing sources from public-domain or self-authored texts, translation loops, and algorithmic generation. The results may take the form of poetry, prose, micro-fiction, or hybrid installations presented on paper, screen, or in performance.

Origins and discourse: The term aligns with broader traditions in text art and experimental writing, including the cut-up technique and other collage practices. In Nordic contexts, textasmíð is used to explore language, memory, information flow, and the politics of authorship and originality.

Reception and use: Scholars and practitioners view textasmíð as a way to question linear storytelling and the dominance of single authorship. It raises ethical questions about sourcing and copyright, while also enabling collaborative authorship and novel reader experiences through layered meanings and textures.

Related concepts include the cut-up technique, collage, text art, constrained writing, and digital poetry.