Constellations of Culture

I just have to say: "Beethoven" (under the constellation "Hydrus") was so cool! Not that I'm biased as a music minor or anything (though "John Cage," "Piano," and "4'33"" were awesome, as well). But the wordplay was really fantastic. Other favorites: "Mystical," "Infinity," "Constellations," "Cassiopeia," and "Private Language."

There were definitely elements of the uncanny in many of the constellations, such as in "Silence." The narrator's various interpretations of silence, coupled with the creepy images of the man, created a sense of paranoia--what does this man's silence mean? Why won't he speak? Rather than coming out and giving us disturbing information about the man, the narrator simply suggested possibilities, leaving our imaginations to take off from there. So naturally, my brain quickly determined that he was most likely a psychopathic serial killer. Another example occurred in "Tribute of Light," when the narrator juxtaposed a tribute to the Twin Towers with a lighted stage for Hitler, bringing to the forefront this idea that what we consider "good" (in this case, light) can just as easily be used for evil. There are also tons of instances of the double, including those found in "Psycho," "Gemini," and "Doubles." Also, "Sky," in its contemplation of dreams and associations, very much reminded me of surrealism.

Basically, this hypertext contains just about everything we've talked about this semester: collage, the uncanny, the subconscious, fragments that, while not entirely cohesive, work together as an emotionally-stimulating whole, the power of suggestion, taking something and turning it on its head, and mixing different mediums. Have I missed anything? And, as Rachel mentioned, the fact that we as the audience directly interact with it, choosing which path to take, adds yet another layer to the work. In other words, tons of stuff we can apply to our own work this semester.