Agrippa

Agrippa (A Book of the Dead) is an experimental art project from 1992 that combines a self-encrypting electronic poem by William Gibson with a physical artist's book created by Dennis Ashbaugh. The work centers on a 300-line semi-autobiographical poem stored on a 3.5" floppy disk, designed to encrypt itself after a single reading. The physical book component, crafted by Ashbaugh, contains pages treated with photosensitive chemicals that cause the text and images to gradually disappear when exposed to light. The project emerged from a collaboration between publisher Kevin Begos Jr. and Ashbaugh, who sought to create an art piece that would literally vanish after being experienced. The work exists at the intersection of digital poetry, visual art, and conceptual performance, exploring the temporary nature of both digital and physical media. Its themes include the impermanence of memory, the evolution of technology, and the inherent mortality of all things - both organic and digital.

Readers describe Agrippa as difficult to access and evaluate due to its unique format as a self-encrypting digital poem that could only be read once before erasing itself. Most never experienced the original 1992 work directly. Readers appreciate: - The meta-commentary on memory and impermanence - The innovation in combining technology and poetry - Gibson's evocative descriptions of his father's photography Common criticisms: - Frustration at being unable to properly read/access the work - Questions about whether it counts as literature if it can't be reread - Price ($450 in 1992) seen as exclusionary Ratings are limited since few readers experienced the original: - Goodreads: 3.8/5 (124 ratings) - Most reviews discuss the concept rather than content One reader noted: "The self-destructing format overshadowed the actual poetry, which is a shame as the writing is quite moving when you can actually read it."

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski This experimental novel uses unconventional formatting and self-referential elements to tell a story that deconstructs itself, mirroring Agrippa's themes of dissolution and impermanence.

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson The narrative explores the intersection of ancient human consciousness and digital technology, creating parallels with Agrippa's meditation on memory and technological evolution.

If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino This meta-fictional work consists of multiple beginnings that fade into each other, echoing Agrippa's exploration of disappearing text and ephemeral reading experiences.

S. by Doug Dorst, J. J. Abrams The physical book contains margin notes, postcards, and artifacts that create a multilayered reading experience similar to Agrippa's fusion of physical and conceptual elements.

The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall The text incorporates visual elements and conceptual poetry while exploring the nature of memory and information, reflecting Agrippa's themes of data degradation and loss.

🔸 The electronic version of Agrippa was released on December 9, 1992, as a 3.5-inch floppy disk containing a poem that would encrypt itself after one reading. 🔸 Despite the self-destructive design, hackers managed to capture and preserve the poem's text within hours of its release, ironically defying the work's intended ephemerality. 🔸 Each physical copy of Agrippa came bound in fine leather and contained etchings by artist Dennis Ashbaugh that were designed to fade when exposed to light. 🔸 William Gibson, also known for coining the term "cyberspace," drew inspiration for the poem from his father's World War II-era Kodak camera and photos. 🔸 The original work was priced at $2,000 for deluxe editions and $450 for regular editions, making it one of the most expensive contemporary art books of its time.