Open “Dreamaphage (Versions 1 and 2)” by Jason Nelson
This is a haunting work that blends fiction, medical reports, memories, and poetry into a rich multimedia experience that is both fascinating and unsettling. Jason Nelson uses a variety of interfaces (in two distinct versions, no less), pop up and notification windows, audio and video to draw readers into the minds of those infected by the fictional (?!) Dreamaphage virus. The medical reports frame and weave within each poetic narrative, some made poetic by virtue of dream imagery that gestures towards Surrealism, some by moments of intense lyricism.
After spending some time with this work, I suggest you start a dream diary and make sure you’re not getting any persistently recurring dreams. Just in case.
Note: If the ELC1 versions require you to install an old Flash 6 plugin, use this link to get to a functioning version of the poem.
Featured in The Electronic Literature Collection, Volume 1.
