# Archetypal Africa > creative work by Alan Bigelow **Wikidata**: [Q132198941](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132198941) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/archetypal-africa ## Summary **Archetypal Africa** is a creative work of digital poetry authored by **Alan Bigelow** and published in **2010**. It functions as a software application, specifically built using **Adobe Flash**, and is distributed via web pages. The work is indexed in the Electronic Literature as a Model for Creativity and Innovation in Practice (ELMCIP) database under ID **4543**. ## Key Facts * **Author:** Alan Bigelow * **Publication Date:** 2010 * **Genre:** Digital poetry * **Instance of:** Creative work, Application (Software) * **Software Engine:** Adobe Flash * **Distribution Format:** Web page * **Published In:** Academic journal, Online art gallery * **ELMCIP ID:** 4543 * **Wikidata Description:** Creative work by Alan Bigelow * **Classification:** Subclass of software designed for end-users ## FAQs **Q: What type of creative work is Archetypal Africa?** Archetypal Africa is a work of digital poetry created by Alan Bigelow. It is technically classified as both a creative work and a software application. **Q: What technology was used to create Archetypal Africa?** The work was built using Adobe Flash and is distributed as a web page, classifying it as an application or software program designed for end-users. **Q: Where can Archetypal Africa be found or accessed?** The work is documented in the ELMCIP database (ID 4543) and has been published in academic journals and online art galleries. **Q: How is Archetypal Africa classified in software terms?** As an application, it is defined as a software program or group of programs designed for end-users to perform specific tasks, distinct from system software. ## Why It Matters Archetypal Africa represents a convergence of literary art and software engineering, serving as a concrete example of how digital platforms can expand the boundaries of poetry. By utilizing Adobe Flash within a web-based format, it demonstrates the evolution of narrative forms into interactive, application-based experiences. Its inclusion in the ELMCIP database (ID 4543) underscores its relevance in the field of electronic literature, highlighting how creative works can function simultaneously as artistic expressions and functional software applications. It illustrates the shift in the 2010s toward browser-based distribution for digital art. ## Notable For * **Hybrid Classification:** It is a distinct example of a "creative work" that is simultaneously an "application," bridging the gap between literature and software. * **Flash Technology:** It is a notable example of digital poetry built on the Adobe Flash platform, a technology that was pivotal for web interactivity in 2010. * **Academic Recognition:** The work is recognized in academic circles, having been published in academic journals and indexed in the ELMCIP knowledge base. * **Web-Based Distribution:** It utilizes the web page as its primary distribution format, making it accessible globally as an end-user application. ## Body ### Overview and Authorship **Archetypal Africa** is a creative work authored by **Alan Bigelow**, a notable figure in the field of digital literature. Created in **2010**, the piece is identified as a work of **digital poetry**. It stands as a specific example of how narrative and poetic forms can be integrated into digital frameworks. The work is indexed in the **Electronic Literature as a Model for Creativity and Innovation in Practice (ELMCIP)** knowledge base, assigned the unique identifier **4543**. ### Technical Classification and Software Context The entity is classified as an **application** (software application or app). In the context of software ontology, an application is a program or group of programs designed for end-users to perform specific tasks, distinct from system software that manages computer operations. * **Platform and Engine:** Archetypal Africa specifically functions as a web page application powered by the **Adobe Flash** software engine. * **Nature:** As an application, it is a subclass of software that implies direct user interaction to achieve a desired outcome—in this case, the consumption of digital poetry. * **Characteristics:** Like all applications, it possesses computer program(s) as its constituent parts and is characterized by application security and utility within a computing environment (desktop or mobile). ### Publication and Distribution The distribution of *Archetypal Africa* has been managed through several specific channels befitting its dual nature as both art and software: * **Academic Journals:** It has appeared in academic publications, suggesting it serves as a subject or example of scholarly interest in digital humanities. * **Online Art Galleries:** The work is featured in digital art spaces, reinforcing its status as a visual and interactive art piece. * **Web Format:** Its primary distribution format is the web page, allowing for broad accessibility via standard internet browsers. ### Context within Application Software As an instance of the "application" class, *Archetypal Africa* shares fundamental properties with all software applications. This class is defined by specific aliases (app, software application, computer application) and identifiers (Dewey Decimal 005.3). While *Archetypal Africa* is a specific creative entity, its classification places it alongside other software types ranging from console applications to mobile apps. It shares the technical definition of being an equivalent class to `https://schema.org/SoftwareApplication`. ### Related Entities and Examples While *Archetypal Africa* is a unique creative work, its classification as an application relates it conceptually to the broader universe of software designed for end-users. The class of "application" includes diverse examples such as: * **Productivity Tools:** FinePrint, Student Writing Center. * **Media Software:** Camtasia, MyEyes. * **Mobile and Web Apps:** Habitica, Piskel. These examples illustrate the versatility of the "application" format, a format which Bigelow utilized to deliver the *Archetypal Africa* experience in 2010.