The collaborative project Language Can Exclude (LCE) makes visible who holds authority and challenges it. At the same time, it asks whether authority can be claimed by appropriating the names and words of those who are already heard, to gain visibility and voice for oneself and for others.
LCE operates within existing power structures in order to undermine them from within, seeking to create visibility for alternative perspectives and marginalised voices.
Participants choose a short passage from a text they consider part of the Western canon – literature, philosophy, politics, religion, psychology or science. Using a small online tool (https://christinpenz.de/lce-text-transformer/) I created, the text is transformed by keeping every third word and rearranging the remaining words. No new words are added. Participants then add one question addressed directly to the reader or listener.
It’s very simple:
– Choose a short extract (around 150–300 words) from a text you consider part of the Western canon.
– Transform it using my online tool. https://christinpenz.de/lce-text-transformer/
– Add one question addressed directly to the reader or listener.
– If you like, record yourself reading the transformed text aloud (a phone recording is absolutely fine).
Please send your contribution to mail@christinpenz.de:
– the original text,
– the transformed text,
– your question,
– and, if possible, an audio recording.
Every contribution becomes part of the project. Your transformed text will be credited with your name and the original source, and it may appear in future posters, installations, films or performances.
I’d be delighted if you’d like to take part. Even if you don’t want to contribute, I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts or feedback. The project keeps changing, and every conversation helps shape where it goes next.