Lexia to Perplexia

Talan Memmott

Talan Memmott's Lexia to Perplexia is a rich and complex exploration of the relationship between human consciousness and network phenomenology. Alluding to traditions ranging from ancient Greek and Egyptian myth to postmodern literary theory, using a creole of human language and code, Lexia is a work in which the functioning and malfunctioning of the interface itself carries as much meaning as the words and images that compose the text.

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Author description: Lexia to Perplexia is a deconstructive/grammatological examination of the "delivery machine." The text of the work falls into the gaps between theory and fiction. The work makes wide use of DHTML and JavaScript. At times its interactive features override the source text, leading to a fragmentary reading experience. In essence, the text does what it says: in that, certain theoretical attributes are not displayed as text but are incorporated into the functionality of the work. Additionally, Lexia to Perplexia explores new terms for the processes and phenomena of attachment. Terms such as "metastrophe" and "intertimacy" work as sparks within the piece and are meant to inspire further thought and exploration. There is also a play between the rigorous and the frivolous in this "exe.termination of terms." The Lexia to Perplexia interface is designed as a diagrammatic metaphor, emphasizing the local (user) and remote (server) poles of network attachment while exploring the "intertimate" hidden spaces of the process.

Instructions: Select a section (lexia) from the menu. Click and mouse over elements of the lexia to expand the content and introduce new elements.

Previous publication: Lexia to Perplexia was published on the Iowa Review Web in September 2000, http://www.uiowa.edu/~iareview/tirweb/hypermedia/talan_memmott/.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.