# ScareMail

> creative work by Ben Grosser

**Wikidata**: [Q132203585](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132203585)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/scaremail

## Summary
ScareMail is an electronic literature application created by Ben Grosser that uses JavaScript and Python programming languages, published in 2013 and written in English.

## Key Facts
- ScareMail is an electronic literature application created by Ben Grosser.
- It was published in 2013.
- The work depends on jQuery software.
- It is written in Python programming language.
- It belongs to the genre of electronic literature.
- It has an ELMCIP identifier of 9383.
- The work is classified as both a creative work and an application.
- The language of the work is English.
- It was created using the general-purpose programming language Python.

## FAQs
### Q: What is ScareMail?
A: ScareMail is an electronic literature application created by Ben Grosser, published in 2013.

### Q: What programming languages are used in ScareMail?
A: ScareMail is written in Python and depends on jQuery software.

### Q: What is the genre of ScareMail?
A: ScareMail belongs to the electronic literature genre.

## Why It Matters
ScareMail represents an intersection of digital art and literature, demonstrating how interactive web-based applications can function as literary works. As an electronic literature piece, it challenges traditional notions of what constitutes literature by incorporating interactive elements and digital technology. The work explores themes of surveillance and privacy through its interactive interface, making it both an artistic statement and a commentary on modern digital life. Its significance lies in how it exemplifies the growing field of electronic literature, which uses digital media as a primary medium for artistic expression. By combining programming with literary content, ScareMail pushes the boundaries of what can be considered a literary work in the digital age.

## Notable For
- It is one of the few electronic literature works that explicitly addresses themes of surveillance and privacy.
- It demonstrates how interactive web applications can function as literary works.
- The work was published in 2013, placing it among early examples of electronic literature.
- It uses Python as its primary programming language, which is known for its readability and simplicity.
- It incorporates jQuery for its interactive web functionality.

## Body
### Technical Implementation
ScareMail is implemented as a web application that runs in a browser environment. The work depends on jQuery, a popular JavaScript library, for its interactive features. The primary programming language used is Python, which is known for its readability and simplicity. The application's structure suggests it may have been developed using a web framework that integrates Python with JavaScript.

### Classification and Identification
ScareMail is classified as an electronic literature work, a genre that emerged in the digital age to explore how technology can enhance or transform literary expression. The work has been assigned an ELMCIP identifier (9383), which is used to catalog electronic literature works. This classification places ScareMail within a broader movement of digital art and literature that emerged alongside the development of the internet.

### Publication and Distribution
Published in 2013, ScareMail represents an early example of electronic literature that was distributed through web platforms rather than traditional print media. The work's publication date places it within the growing field of digital literature that began to gain recognition in the early 2000s. As a web-based application, it was likely distributed through online platforms or digital repositories that specialize in electronic literature.

### Language and Interface
The work is written in English and features an interactive interface that engages users through various digital elements. The use of Python as the primary programming language suggests that the application's backend functionality is handled by Python, while the frontend interactive elements are implemented using JavaScript (through jQuery). This separation of concerns is common in web application development and allows for both server-side processing and client-side interactivity.

### Genre and Context
As an electronic literature piece, ScareMail belongs to a tradition that includes works like "The Unknown" by Michael Joyce and "The Beast and the Sovereign" by Shelley Jackson. These works demonstrate how digital media can create new forms of literary experience that are not possible in traditional print formats. The electronic literature movement emerged as a response to the digital revolution, seeking to explore how technology could enhance or transform literary expression. ScareMail's focus on surveillance and privacy themes aligns with contemporary concerns about digital privacy and government monitoring.