algorithmic-literature
A literary form that uses the structure and logic of algorithms to dictate narrative progression, as Perec does by simulating a recursive flowchart in his text.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise (2008)Georges Perec
This foreword to Georges Perec's 'The Art of Asking Your Boss for a Raise' situates the work within Perec's broader literary and intellectual context, highlighting his engagement with computers, algorithms, and literature through his involvement with Oulipo. It explains how Perec transformed a bureaucratic flowchart into a recursive, algorithmic literary experiment that explores the human experience within rigid systems, blending humor, repetition, and existential themes. The foreword also traces the evolution of the work into radio and stage plays, emphasizing its enduring relevance as a critique of bureaucracy and a demonstration of what computers cannot replicate: human emotion and humor.