www.michaeljmaguire.com Creative Technology & Technological Creativity

Apparently a phenomena exists in Ireland called academic inflation, I say apparently because a man came onto my telly last evening and told me and the rest of the dumb(ing down) Irish RTE audience that it had now become apparent. Our results were up our intelligence just had to be down.

The following is a version of a comment I offered in response to Joseph Tabbi’s recent article regarding his reflection on 300 works of digital literature.

I suspect Joseph Tabbi’s excellent article and the many subsequent intelligent replies, taken in the context of the current economic climate, surreptitiously suggest moot questions of cultural hegemony, exclusivity and potential unrest among future digital natives. Should I comment directly on the kernel of his original questions, i.e. Can I know if models of reception and commentary will conform, if these digital works will actually ‘work’ in a sense that is comparable to accepted or traditional literary understanding / criteria ? Erm.. no..I can only offer my own messy mispredictions below to mirror his lucid reflections above.

The image above is the only known non-copyrighted image of ‘heliopod’ the Armenian syntax smuggler – master of disguise supposed real name: Clause Von Gerund – also known to Interpol under several pseudonyms and identities including the infamous digital poetry kidnapper Mr. Jason Nelson. Although unconfirmed reports mention his recent involvement in any number of releases, officials still advise caution and at least two stanzas of William Carlos Williams before approaching.

I’ve been draft dodging from on high in TCD this week, not militarily, nor tap (b)eerily, nor even checkers or under the door draught types of evasion– but successfully avoiding relatively solid outline work I simply must get done – I am (not) doing it right now – writing this instead of what I really should be doing – what I might expect to do, thesis work, digital posts or poems, ..maybe both – or video, code, etc - something seemingly solid other than opinion/experience !