ENTRE VILLE
A multi-sensory homage to creator JR Carpenter’s old Montreal neighborhood and its residents, Entre Ville was published in 2006, though fragments of the work had been compiled since 1992. Entre Ville is a unique display of poetry brought to life by a number of techniques that allow us to relive Carpenter's memories. Play it HERE.
The interface of Entre Ville consists of a central notebook, on which Carpenter’s poems and drawings of the neighborhood can be seen. Surrounding the notebook are photos and icons, which are linked to new windows containing videos that capture the sights, sounds, and “texture” of the neighborhood, Mile End. Though all of the visual aspects contribute to the experience, the videos especially help users form a full, enriching perception of the imagery presented in the poems. As poetry critic Leonardo Flores says, "The beautifully framed short videos interspersed throughout scrapbook-like interface enrich the already vivid imagery of the central poem in the work" (Flores).
In conversation with Authoring Software, Carpenter describes her inspiration to create the piece, explaining, “My home office window opens into a jumbled intimacy of back balconies, yards, gardens and alleyways. Daily my dog and I walk through this interior city sniffing out stories” (Malloy).These daily interactions with neighbors inspired two poems that provide a thematic foundation for the entire work, “Saint Urbain Street Heat” and “Sniffing for Stories”. Specific lines of these poems often accompany the videos. This helps users to make connections and know exactly what they are seeing, while also aligning them with the author's headspace--a continuous theme throughout the work.
Macin Sheeder
Back to Introduction
