Can Computation Be Sensual?

Computation is often associated with precision, logic, and abstraction, yet it also holds the potential for sensuality and emotional resonance. Alan Turing’s Universal Machine demonstrated computation’s boundless possibilities, but how do we reconcile its mechanical nature with the human experience of feeling?

Ursula K. Le Guin’s Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction offers a provocative lens for exploring this question. By shifting focus from dominant narratives to overlooked perspectives, Le Guin challenges us to rethink the materiality of computation. Karen Barad’s concept of diffraction deepens this reflection, suggesting that technology can amplify differences that matter, rather than erasing them.

This leads me to ask: How can computational art harness sensuality to challenge dominant narratives and create space for emotional and inclusive storytelling? By focusing on computation as a medium for connection rather than control, we can begin to imagine new ways of experiencing and understanding the world. This requires not only technical innovation but also a commitment to embedding empathy and complexity into the systems we create.