Introduction
My Body was written and designed by Shelley Jackson in 1997. It is an HTML hypertext work originally published by the Alt-X Online Network. My Body uses monochrome sketches of human anatomy to relate certain body parts to specific memories and anecdotes. By doing so, it characterizes the narrator’s coming of age, including an exploration of both sexuality and sensuality. Shelley Jackson classifies My Body as a semi-autobiographical work, but there are also undoubtedly fictitious elements. To interact with My Body, the reader begins by selecting a body part from the starting image. Each body region includes an image and recollections that reveal an aspect of the narrator’s youth. The reader is able to click through parts of the body that are hyperlinked together. There is no order or chronological aspect to the work, it is merely an exercise of exploration. This exploration of the physical body is especially meaningful because it reveals insight into the narrator’s identity. It explains how not only our biology, but also our character is influenced by our outside environment.
My Body can be accessed here.
