Scissors.js

Scissors.js is a library for making literary cut-ups, à la William Burroughs or Tristan Tzara.

To install, clone this repo or:

wget https://github.com/zaaanderson/scissors.js/raw/master/scissors-min.js

then include scissors-min.js in your project.

All the functions are stored in a global object called Siz. To use, say, shuffleWords(), call Siz.shuffleWords("the string to shuffle").

Functions

• reverseWords()
• shuffleWords()
• reverseLines()
• shuffleLines()
• burSpl()
• burWrd()

reverseWords(string)

Returns string with its words reversed. Splits on spaces.

Example:

It is so long since I first took opium that if it had been a trifling incident in my life I might have forgotten its date; but cardinal events are not to be forgotten, and from circumstances connected with it I remember that it must be referred to the autumn of 1804.

gives:

1804. of autumn the to referred be must it that remember I it with connected circumstances from and forgotten, be to not are events cardinal but date; its forgotten have might I life my in incident trifling a been had it if that opium took first I since long so is It

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shuffleWords(string)

Returns string with its words in a random order. Splits on spaces.

Example:

Immured in Heaven!
What a cell!
Let every Bondage be,
Thou sweetest of the Universe,
Like that which ravished thee!

could give

be,
of in that a Thou Universe,
every ravished the What Let cell!
Like sweetest Bondage which Heaven!
thee! Immured

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reverseLines(string)

Formats the string as if it were laid out on a page, then reverses the order of the "lines". Respects word breaks.

Example:

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shuffleLines(string)

Formats the string as if it were laid out on a page, then shuffles the order of the "lines". Respects word breaks.

Example:

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burSpl(string)

Formats the string as if it were laid out on a page, then cuts the virtual page into four equally-sized pieces, shuffles the pieces, and stitches them back together. Doesn't respect word breaks.

This is an accurate reproduction of the Burroughs-Gysin cut-up method. Burroughs liked the way that split-up words would be combined to make new words.

Example:

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burWrd(string)

Formats the string as if it were laid out on a page, then cuts the virtual page into four equally-sized pieces, shuffles the pieces, and stitches them back together. Does respect word breaks.

Example:

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