This project is an exploration of digital text and how it can be utilized in the creation of a new way of reading. The text that the project explores is Labyrinth, a collection of short stories by Jorge Luis Borges.

A quick note about “references,” as defined for this project:
A reference, as I will refer to it within this project write-up, is a word or phrase that, when understood in more detail, exposes a more rich narrative within the writing of Borges. The references have been curated subjectively and by hand as the result of several close readings of the original text.

The stories of Labyrinths are dense with these references. What is most compelling about these references is that some of them are factual, some are completely fictional, and at times they are untrue yet rooted in fact or history. Throughout a collection of his short stories, the use of these references weaves together the narrative fabric that is his own universe.

The reading system developed explores the relationship between the reader, the Borges universe, the outside world and where he blurs the line between the two.

The first story from Labyrinths that has been built out into a specifically relevant reading environment is Three Versions of Judas.

To begin, the reader is presented with definitions and explanations of various references from within the original story. The information presented is the result of real time access to online data sources. This creates a look-up system that could potentially change over time in order to present the most current or relevant understandings of the references. Along with the text, the reader is presented with a slightly open door leading into a dark room that is emitting ominous yet quite amorphous sounds. The goal is to introduce the reader to some of the reference-based framework on which the inner narrative is built.

Once inside, the narrative is presented as a time-based piece in the form of animated typography glowing through the surface of a table in the middle of a large, dark room. The timing has been determined by an XML file that adheres to the Timed Text schema which is used for adding closed captioned text to video. This markup file was generated as a result of a script developed to separate a larger narrative into its inherent segments based the punctuation used. This script also identifies the reference words and phrases to be used by both the inner and outer displays. As the text  plays back visually, it also uses the letters of each statement to compose the audio of the space in real time. The text that is being displayed on the inside is synchronized with the text being displayed outside the room in order to maintain a time-based relationship between the references and the original context.

Upon exiting through the same door the reader entered from, the defined references act as another reminder of the depth and complexity of the reading contained within. Now available for comparison between the two, the inner text is immensely more rich, complex and artistically crafted. In contrast, the exterior text is very sterile, direct and almost pedestrian in nature.

The underlying system: the separation of content and presentation.
The system that has been developed for the creation and use of the marked-up narrative is one that could be utilized in any number of ways as determined by the specifics of the story from the collection it is being applied to. The audio, visual, and experiential environment will change for each of the stories in order to develop the most relevant and engaging reading space for each piece. The Temple of Judas is this system as implemented with specific decisions made for the story Three Versions of Judas.

A Diagram of the XML Schema used for marking-up Three Versions of Judas and other short stories from Borges's Labyrinth

See also: A behind the scenes video & an early performance test