Submitted by: Rosa Reid
Loss of Grasp: By Serge Bouchardon and Vincent Volckaert
http://anthology.elmcip.net/works/loss-of-grasp.html
Loss of Grasp is a digitally born work which resides in the Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice (ELMCIP) Anthology of European Literature. Works for this anthology were selected on four main criteria: European diversity, Formal diversity, Historical relevance, and Pedagogical relevance. Loss of Grasp displays the four characteristics of digital text by combining graphics, color, non-linguistic sound and text in its presentation. It immerses the reader/viewer with mouse click/ movement, and when granted permission, the use of the viewers’ webcam. Involvement with the use of the webcam adds another layer of interactivity. The reader can choose to see themselves as the protagonist of the story-line. Grasping, losing grasp and patience is part of the overall effect. The reader/viewer is rewarded with multi-modal and interactive textual, visual and audio effects that serve as an outlet for any ‘loss of grasp’ that occurs.
Analysis
Loss of Grasp invites us in with a brief textual description, in three languages, while a bird chirps in an imagined space. The chirping fades peacefully, but it appears that in order to activate the first of six frames, we need to lose our grasp, grip, patience. When we do so and start shaking the mouse, we are told to be patient. In effect, this piece can be used as an example of the frustration readers/viewers can feel in navigating Electronic Literature. The reader/viewer does not have full control; any number of possibilities can be hidden behind each piece of text or pixel. Continuing this interactivity, physically and emotionally we are textually given the main thrust of the story which is the protagonist’s attempt to maintain control on his life. Using our webcam, we can put ourselves in the story, and if we choose to bend reality, we can feel it is all about us. By dealing with colourful digital effects reflective of times we have felt as strong as a “king of the world” to times we/the author have felt completely out of control “it fails me.” Although the story is of letdowns, and we continue to lose our grasp, the frames are digitally well crafted, rewarding us with the ability to control colour, visual, audio and textual effects. In the sixth frame, we are given a text box in which we can key in a conclusion. With deserved relief, we jump at the chance to fill in the ending.
The Authors
The following records were found on the ELMCIP.net database. No other biographical information was found.
Serge Bouchardon – Born 1964
Serge Bouchardon graduated in literature from La Sorbonne University (France). After working as a project manager in the educational software industry for six years, he wrote his dissertation on interactive literary narrative and is currently associate professor in communication sciences at the University of Technology of Compiegne (France). His research focuses on digital creation, in particular electronic literature. (ELMCIP.net)
Vincent Volckaert: Born 1985
Vincent Volckaert is a computer engineer interested in literary writing who works with randomness and content generation. Residency: USA, Nationality: France. (ELMCIP.net)
An example Vincent Volckaert’s digital tools and hypertext language (rt click to source) can be found at: www.vinvolv.com
ELMCIP has an Electronic Knowledge Base: http://elmcip.net/knowledgebase
“The ELMCIP Knowledge Base is a research resource for electronic literature. It provides cross-referenced, contextualized information about authors, creative works, critical writing, and practices.” (elmcip.net)
Loss of Grasp is archival worthy, serving as a digitally born work that uses all electronic capabilities to exemplify the new inkwell/tools writers and artists now have at their disposal.