Redefining the Written Word

Today on Sashay's blog, she posted about a project called Ineradicable Stain which proposes to tattoo one word of a complete text on the body of volunteers - for a total of 2095 people. [Of which i sent my official request to participate this afternoon]

The project is aptly timed with my reading of Espen Aarseth's Cybertext. The project states that the text in its entirety will only be offered to those who participate in it, and as each person passes away, the text will alter. It interests me in the face of Aarseth's work on traditional views and definitions of textual narrative as we looks to define Cybertext and Ergodic literature in the digital age. The project answers nicely to a point he raises [chapter 4] about intent of the text versus the perception and actions of the reader and how the format of the text plays into the reader's idea of what the narrative is. (among much more theory that i haven't processed yet)

The project also interests me as a creative expression that marries my love for words, tattoos and supports something that pushes the boundaries of predetermined norms in art and literature.