The point I am making, if it isn't obvious by now, is that this is not a
project that culminates into a simple, nice, easy to understand climactic
moment. I think it can be much more than that. I think it can take on a
mythological quality of its own. Let us not forget that we have taken on
our shoulders the ultimate conceit. We have made ourselves Gods. We
should not shrink from this new found responsibility, rather we should
relish in it and make the most of this opportunity we have given ourselves.
After all, how often have we had the chance to be so omnipotent.
Remember, the importance of mythology lies in the fact that it lives
forever and that it speaks to us through the ages with a relevance that
does not diminish with time. That is a sign of greatness and that is what
I think we should aim for. Even if we fall short, we will at least have
made an honest and worthy attempt to honor the words and spirit of the
Odyssey. No one will be able to accuse us of not having lofty goals or the
ambition to try to attain them.
With this in mind, it now seems clear that we have reached a critical
juncture in the Oudeis Project where the decisions we make will determine
the lasting value of our efforts. I propose that we look at the
performances and all the work leading up to them as a process of creation
(birth) and that the performances themselves serve as the means by which
the Oudeis Project comes into existence on the InterNet, where the Odyssey
lives on, where the voyage lasts for eternity on this new and extraordinary
medium...enter the fourth dimension.
As was said before, any location in the universe can be mapped by the
simple combination of three numbers. Unfortunately, for our purposes, this
is not good enough. We need one more number, one more element. And that
missing piece is time, the fourth dimension. That, along with the other
three factors, is the key to life after performance, to eternal existence.
For the moments that are created during the play will live on in infinity.
They will serve as variables, numbers, pieces of a puzzle that will give
The Oudeis Project form and shape long after the actors have left the
stage. This is where our greatest opportunity is to expand and explore to
the fullest the theatrical capabilities of the Net.
Imagine someone logging onto the Net months or even years after the
performances have taken place and being able to relive The Odyssey,
complete with captured images, movements, various perspectives, changes in
locations, audio and video. What an accomplishment, the myth would live on
in this new electronic medium bringing the experience and pleasure of this
story to countless numbers of people. Something that should make us all
proud.
Also, if we find the limitations of the Net to be constraining some of the
things we wish to accomplish we could, separate to what we place on the
Net, release a disk of the Oudeis Project that would run unencumbered on a
home computer, another very exciting prospect.
These goals I have outlined I believe are easily within our grasp and will
in no way detract from the decisions that have been made up till now
regarding the actual performances. Monika and Gernot will continue to work
on the episodes, the worldwide collaboration will go on, locations will be
found, Rainer and his crew will press forward with all the technical
considerations. However, what does need to be done is this. At the time
of performance all images and sounds must be captured and catalogued (some
of this can be done before the performance). In addition, all actors and
objects must be mapped in four dimensions. This can be accomplished with
the use of sensors and the computer's own built in time clock. Now, I
realize that Rainer has previously said that the grid will be
two-dimensional. There is a way to get around this limitation if we can
extrapolate the coordinates to give us a three-dimensional perspective on a
two-dimensional plane. There are also other options, such as inexpensive
infrared detectors that could be used to establish depth. Whatever the
case, I am confident Rainer could come up with something if we choose to go
in this direction.
After all, life is too short. Why not create a little eternity?
Long live Oudeis!
Lee