Tarot Fabula: Radical Digital Cards, Shuffled Narrative Structures, and Playing the Future in an Era of Algorithms

Author

Rachel M.L. Dixon, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

2-2024

Document Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Digital Humanities

Advisor

Lisa Rhody

Subject Categories

Creative Writing | Digital Humanities | European Languages and Societies | Other English Language and Literature | Other Film and Media Studies | Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology | Theory and Criticism

Keywords

tarot cards, play studies, narratology, digital collections, queer theory

Abstract

Since their earliest recorded use in the 1400s, tarot cards figure as objects for game play, artistic creativity, spiritual divination, and self-discovery. Tarot Fabula (https://tarot-fabula.com) introduces a ludic, interactive website interface that challenges 20th century tarot reading practices as linear narratives. Statistically random reshufflings of tarot decks from archival collections prompt the reader to become a narrative co-creator, drawing them into conversation with traditional reading and interpretive practices as they remix narrative elements portrayed on the cards. Tarot Fabula’s shuffling and reshuffling of cards as historical objects merges contemporary computational methods for generating random results with an interrogation of traditional assumptions of reading, interpreting, and storytelling. Consequently, the cards present a mirror that calls attention to the limitations of linear narrative and the opportunities for storytelling we encounter as citizens of an algorithmic age. Drawing on values of minimal computing to support accessibility and sustainability, Tarot Fabula deploys traditional front-end languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), a single javascript library for increased accessibility (MicromodalJS), and an Omeka collection of artifacts. Code for the site is available on GitHub (https://github.com/msdixon/memetic-tarot) and the site was designed to be hosted through Reclaim Hosting.

Recommended Citation

Dixon, Rachel M.L., "Tarot Fabula: Radical Digital Cards, Shuffled Narrative Structures, and Playing the Future in an Era of Algorithms" (2024). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5695