I have updated the "read | play" list (to your right), a selection of people whose work with electrons has inspired me. You are invited to hover over the links to see WHY I think you might enjoy clicking each one. I have also collected list metadata & trivia for those of you who have read the hover text and want to have fun with it.
Many of the people listed create poetry as a primary or secondary activity, or just because they can. Grappling with their work takes everything I have. By now I know not to even start when I cannot pay full attention. That says more about me than about poetry, but I'm just explaining this because I don't like to hear, "I tried a poem once but I couldn't get into it." Rita Mae Brown recommends preparing physically for mental challenges and mentally for physical challenges. So a few hours of Pilates (or equiv) should set us right up...
No attempt has been made to be comprehensive; many more digital objects | opportunities to read | play can be purchased from Eastgate or the MIT Press and found in the directory maintained by the Electronic Literature Organization. I hope that if you find the list wanting (too many poets and visionaries? not enough history and theory? needs more Australians?), you will be inspired to update your own and send me a link.
As I checked all the links just now, several pieces in particular struck me.
Secret rules from within Rhetorical Devices for Electronic Literature
This node offers an alternative path into Deena Larsen's e-literature teaching site. It contains the most concise statement of ... I dare you to click it, that's all.
Torill Mortensen's thinking with my fingers entry "It feels final"
Excerpt: Living in Volda, the distinction between "real" and "virtual" world feels meaningless. What's real about living here? It's so secluded, so filled with its own rules, concerns and moving by its own rythm that living in the flesh world of Volda is like living in a virtual world. The insane beauty of the place, combined with the ruthless weather, the heavy darkness and the dreariness of the third month of rain and sleet, it turns Volda into something on the flip-side of other flesh world realities. At the same time - this is it. This is the reality, because reality is made up of a million little spots like this, places of heartbreaking beauty and equally numbing mundaneity, spread like random handfuls of marbles all over the planet.
Torill, your poetic way of ... *weeps quietly* Hope the move continues to go smoothly.
Elin Sjursen's posting on Barriers to Understanding Twitter
Excerpt: Journalists continue to fall prey to the most outrageously ridiculous claims from those with titles within fields like psychology who claim to understand something about human interactions in the online world. ... Sweeping generalizations that misguide the public on the reality of what happens online is a big problem.
Although perhaps my favourite bit is where she asks (after quoting some "experts"), "Are you on twitter? Is this how you feel?" Exactly!
The final two links have content about health, linked to matters of spirit and mortality:
Justine Larbalestier's posting on RSI and so much more, "Farewell For Now"
Bassey Ikpi's re-posting of "One Good Reason To Stay (A Poem for Phyllis Hyman)"
Excerpt from the introduction: Fuck Stigma. If you need help, get help. Those who wish to shame you aren’t going to ever come to your rescue. Fuck them. Seek treatment. Pity the ones not brave enough to seek help. Who only want to sit in judgment of those who do. Fuck them. Seek treatment. Talk about it. Fuck a stigma.
If you are listed here, and I have not linked to the preferred version of your online presence, please let me know (juliannechat at gmail dot com). All comments are welcome!
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