In absentia by J.R. Carpenter and "Mr. Plimpton's Revenge" by Dinty Moore

On In Absentia

Buster from Arthur (meme)

In absentia functions using Google Maps a key element, not unlike the Dinty Moore piece, but J.R. Carpenter morphs the Google Maps essay, using additional elements that while complicating the experience, make the site otherworldly and, therefore, conflates the surrealism of the In absentia. The prose at times uses a heightened language that implements sound techniques found in poetry, "Your backyard used to have an ancient wooden door sagging blue askew amidst a retinue of vines clinging to a crumbling cinderblock wall guarding an oasis of lazy Brown-Eyed-Susans." 

From In Absentia

The surrealism or magical realism comes into play after a close examination one can see that the placements of certain things, the image of the door included with, for example, does not seem logical. This is a juxtaposition of what we understand Google Maps to be, a factual information resource. This is obviously a factual entry on the map, but the door seems out of place with the urban apartment where the entry is said to take place. Was that door really there, or did J.R. Carpenter take a liberty, and what motive did she have for setting that door as the symbol for this place?

Another property of importance is how some of the features, namely street view, elevates the experience, by turning the setting into a known place without ever being there, and a place that can be explored like the land in the classic Sega game/childhood mindf*** Myst (walkthrough for Windows 95 version below)

On "Mr. Plimpton's Revenge"

In the piece of e-literature, Mr. Pimptons Revenge, a young college student was asked to chauffeur the famous writer, Mr. Plimpton. Between a $400 crap car, being hungover from drugs and not having enough money for lunch, it was not the greatest experience for Mr. Plimpton to say the least. Throughout this google maps essay Dinty had a few more odd acquaintances with Mr. Plimpton almost making him seem as if he were stalking him! The Revenge Mr. Plimpton gets is when a few years later when Dinty has become a writer with a few books of his own, he sees Mr. Plimpton at a conference… to find out the revenge he gets you must read this essay! click here to read the Mr. Plimptons Revenge

I found this piece very interesting and thought it was different but a fun read. I couldn’t help but to catch myself laughing out loud in a room by myself. I had a smile on my face during the entire piece. It also kept me in suspense in wanting to know what the revenge was. As you read and follow his experience around on the map with this easy to follow format, you will feel more engaged and attentive during the entire story. This is a read I will never forget and would recommend it to anyone in need of a good laugh. It will make never think of google maps the same way again.

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Credits

Writing: Laura Soltis and Ashley Bach

Editing: Chad Kusenko and Eli Brittingham

Hyperlinks: Chad Kusenko, Eli Brittingham, and Ashley Bach