Reagan Library

March 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment

This was a really interesting piece. First of all, pictures accompany the text. The pictures are actually three dimensional, 360 degree views of mythical landscapes. You can move the image to view the entire landscape. This is done in html format so there are numerous links embedded with the text to take you on your journey. This is by all definitions a fantastical journey through imaginary lands often becoming very ambiguous. That is to say it is hard to follow a set path. Some links lead back to the beginning of the piece but the landscape can change, new objects can be added in the second time you come across the same image.

While playing the game I would quite often find myself back at the “Jade Pavillion” which was the starting image of the game. On this page there are notes about the game. Each time I came back the notes had changed and so had the links. This is similar to the game “Shade” because a certain amount of times you would come back to your plant and it would be a different plants. Until you started to reach the end of the game the plant would seem to continue to change. As I progressed further into the game, “Reagan Library” introduced aliens. The landscapes changed from mythical ancient greek and roman style to invaders from outer space. After about twenty links the story actually encourages you to keep going.

I played the game for half an hour on my first run through and ended up getting myself caught in a loop of links. I don’t know how I did it but I managed to find six pages all with one link that just kept connecting back to each other in the same order. Perhaps you will have more luck than I did on your first run through.

http://collection.eliterature.org/1/works/moulthrop__reagan_library.html

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The 30-Second Bunny Theatre

February 23, 2012 by 2 Comments

After reading the conversations surrounding cmccrzy’s post “Abridged Series” I also began to question whether or not parodied animated web series could be classified as a part of the Electronic Literature canon. The post referenced “abridged” webseries and “How It Should Have Ended” and these references reminded me of another online series, “The 30-Second Bunny Theatre” by Angry Alien Productions. This series also takes popular movies, condenses them into a shorter period of time and presents them in a satirical way. “The 30-Second Bunny Theatre” is very similar to the other two series however unlike the “How It Should Have Ended” the ending or plot from the original are not significantly altered in any way apart from the fact all the characters are played by bunnies.

 

I can see value in both sides of the argument for the classification of these videos. “The 30-Second Bunny Theatre” videos were electronically born, therefore meeting the “born digital” criteria, and possess narrative qualities. In addition, these types of videos hold expectations for those who are viewing them and therefore require something out of the viewers. As cmccrzy stated “They make you really think about what goes on in the show/movie/what-have-you.” These videos are created with expectation that the viewers have already sent the original. For example, if you watch one of these videos and had never seen Inception, the film on which the video is based, you probably wouldn’t enjoy your viewing experience as much.

 

On the other hand I don’t know if these qualities justify the videos being classified as Electronic Literature. Although the videos were undeniably born digitally it is important to remember the basis of the videos was taken from an outside source. As viewers we cannot say whether or not the original films had a digital origin. One cannot argue that they were solely responsible for the birth of a parody piece because their piece would not exist had the idea being parodied not already existed. In addition I don’t think watching a video and having some background knowledge of the plot is enough interaction. If watching a video were enough than every video would fall into the canon and I don’t believe that is so.

 

Something else to think about is what happens to the classification once the projects medium or purpose changes. When Angry Alien Productions first starting making their thirty-second parody videos I’m sure they were unaware of the popularity they would receive. Now instead of creating the videos simply for the entertainment of their viewers or themselves the production team intend to make a profit out of their videos. If you visit the Angry Alien Production website you can purchase a DVD containing a compilation of the “The 30-Second Bunny Theatre” videos. After seeing this I’m not sure where I stand on the Electronic Literature classification argument. Can the videos online be classified as Electronic Literature but the videos on the DVD not be classified as such? Can a piece fall into more than one category based on the way in which it is viewed? I’m not sure where to draw the line.

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Flashmobs the new electronic literature?

February 9, 2012 by 1 Comment

 

After talking about the definition of electronic literature in class yesterday, I decided to go online and see what some different definitions were online. I went to Wikipedia (I know, not the most reliable source of information) and its definition was similar to ours; any digital born literature meant to be consumed on the computer that could not exist without the computer. That’s why I was surprised Wikipedia listed Flashmobs as a potential form of electronic literature.

Improv Everywhere was listed as an example of Flashmobs, a group that pulls pranks such as “No Pants Subway” and “Best Buy Takeover” all around New York City. They plan their events online and find volunteers through their online mailing. Improv Everywhere then trains the volunteers to pull the prank, then afterwards uploads the prank onto the internet.  Below are some of their most publicized videos and successful events.

 

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Though I red a few articles arguing that this is a form of performance based electronic literature, I am not convinced. Very little literature is involved. In fact, everything is improved and, in most of their pranks, they don’t even speak. If anything this could be argued as electronic art, but even that is stretching it. The only argument for literature based flashmobs are the recently started musical flashmob. Improv Everywhere’s most current musical is breaking out into song on Santa’s lap at a local mall (see the clip above). For this particular prank, I understand the reasoning behind calling it electronic literature. Creating the script and lyrics to produce a musical takes literary talent. However, like previously stated, most flashmobs don’t include literature at all.

Totally removing the literary argument, we must remember the other integral part of what E-lit is. Electronic literature (or art) mandates that the piece be consumed electronically, produced for the sole purpose of viewing it on the computer. These flashmobs and musicals are put on YouTube to become a worldwide sensation, but that is not their purpose. The founder Charlie Todd states, “Our missions are a fun source of entertainment for the participants, those who happen to see us live, and those who read our website.” Like Todd says, the purpose is entertainment and there are many ways that Improv Everywhere can be seen: live, on TV shows, the news, as well as their YouTube channel. This negates the core of the definition of E-lit, therefore proving the argument of flashmobs being a form of E-lit invalid.

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