# Ah (a shower song)

> creative work by Dirk Vis, K. Michel

**Wikidata**: [Q132198958](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132198958)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ah-a-shower-song

## Summary
"Ah (a shower song)" is a work of electronic literature and digital poetry created by Dirk Vis and K. Michel. Published in 2008, it functions as a creative performance application distributed via web page. The work was built using Adobe Flash and PHP.

## Key Facts
- **Authors:** Dirk Vis and K. Michel.
- **Publication Date:** 2008.
- **Genre:** Electronic literature; Digital poetry.
- **Instance of:** Creative work, Performance, Application.
- **Technology Stack:** Built using Adobe Flash (software engine) and PHP (programming language).
- **Distribution Format:** Web page.
- **Language:** English.
- **Database ID:** ELMCIP ID 4609.
- **Publication Context:** Published in an academic journal and on a social networking service.

## FAQs
### Q: Who are the creators of "Ah (a shower song)"?
A: The work was authored by Dirk Vis and K. Michel. It is classified as a creative work and digital poem.

### Q: What technology is required to run "Ah (a shower song)"?
A: The work is an application distributed via a web page. It utilizes Adobe Flash as its software engine and PHP as its programming language.

### Q: When was "Ah (a shower song)" released?
A: The creative work was published in 2008.

## Why It Matters
"Ah (a shower song)" serves as a distinct example of the intersection between creative writing and software development within the field of electronic literature. By utilizing PHP and Adobe Flash, the authors created a "performance" application that transforms static text into a digital experience, a hallmark of the digital poetry genre. Its dual classification as both a software application and a creative work highlights the evolving nature of literary artifacts in the 21st century, where code and content are inextricably linked.

The piece is significant for its use of the web page as a distribution format, making experimental literature accessible outside traditional print media. Its inclusion in academic journals and social networking services demonstrates its role in bridging formal literary study with broader digital culture. Furthermore, its record in the ELMCIP (Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice) knowledge base underscores its relevance to scholars studying the history and technical evolution of born-digital literature.

## Notable For
- **Genre Hybridization:** Combines the classification of a "performance" and "application" within the context of poetry.
- **Technical Composition:** Utilizes a specific stack of Adobe Flash and PHP, characteristic of web-based art from the late 2000s.
- **Authorship:** A collaborative effort between Dirk Vis and K. Michel.
- **Academic Recognition:** Cataloged in the ELMCIP academic knowledge base (ID 4609).
- **Publication Medium:** Distributed as a web page and published via academic journals and social networking services.

## Body
### Creative and Technical Classification
"Ah (a shower song)" is an English-language creative work authored by Dirk Vis and K. Michel. Structurally, it is defined as an instance of a "performance" and an "application." This classification places it firmly within the realm of electronic literature, specifically identified as digital poetry.

### Development and Technology
The application was constructed using a specific technical framework:
- **Software Engine:** Adobe Flash.
- **Programming Language:** PHP.
- **Format:** Web page.

These technologies suggest the work relies on server-side scripting (PHP) combined with multimedia capabilities (Flash) to deliver its content.

### Publication History
The work was published in 2008. Unlike traditional print literature, "Ah (a shower song)" was distributed through digital channels, specifically identified as a web page. Its publication venues include academic journals and social networking services, reflecting a distribution model suited for net art and digital performance. The work is archived and referenced under ELMCIP ID 4609.