# Substratum

> creative work by Alison Clifford, Graeme Truslove

**Wikidata**: [Q132198908](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132198908)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/substratum

## Summary
Substratum is a creative work and software application created by Alison Clifford and Graeme Truslove. Published in 2010, it functions as an exhibit built using the Max and Processing programming environments. The work is categorized as both an application and a piece of electronic literature.

## Key Facts
- **Authors:** Alison Clifford and Graeme Truslove.
- **Publication Date:** 2010.
- **Nature of Entity:** Classified as a creative work, an exhibit, and an application.
- **Programming Languages:** Built using Max (programming language) and Processing.
- **Language:** The work is in English.
- **Identifier:** Listed in the ELMCIP (Electronic Literature as a Model of Creativity and Innovation in Practice) knowledge base with ID 4353.
- **Context:** Associated with the software class "application," defined as a program designed for end-users.

## FAQs
### Q: Who are the creators of Substratum?
A: Substratum was created by Alison Clifford and Graeme Truslove. It is recognized as a collaborative creative work authored by both individuals.

### Q: What programming tools were used to build Substratum?
A: The work was developed using the Max programming language and the Processing programming environment. Processing is noted as a graphics library and environment established in 2001.

### Q: When was Substratum released?
A: Substratum was published in 2010.

## Why It Matters
Substratum serves as a concrete example of the intersection between creative arts and computer science, specifically within the realm of electronic literature. Developed in 2010, it illustrates the early adoption of visual programming environments like Max and Processing for artistic expression. These tools allow creators to build interactive exhibits and applications without relying solely on traditional text-based coding, bridging the gap between technical functionality and aesthetic experience.

The inclusion of Substratum in the ELMCIP knowledge base (ID 4353) highlights its relevance to the academic and artistic study of electronic literature. It demonstrates how software applications can function as exhibits, challenging traditional definitions of "reading" or "viewing" art. By utilizing specific programming frameworks, the creators were able to produce a work that is both a functional piece of software and a creative artifact, contributing to the documented history of digital creative practices.

## Notable For
- Being a dual-classification artifact: it is simultaneously a software application and a creative exhibit.
- Utilizing a combination of two distinct creative coding tools: Max and Processing.
- Serving as a documented piece of electronic literature within the ELMCIP academic database.
- Representing a collaborative authorship model between two creators, Alison Clifford and Graeme Truslove.

## Body
### Authorship and Classification
Substratum is a creative work authored by Alison Clifford and Graeme Truslove. It is formally classified as an "instance of" three distinct categories: a creative work, an exhibit, and an application. This multi-faceted classification defines it as a piece of software designed for end-users that functions as an artistic display. The work is recorded in the English language.

### Technical Development
The development of Substratum relied on two specific programming environments:
*   **Max:** A visual programming language used for music and multimedia.
*   **Processing:** A programming environment and graphics library utilized for electronic arts and visual design.

The utilization of Processing connects the work to a lineage of creative coding tools that became prominent following the environment's inception in 2001.

### Academic and Provenance Data
The entity is indexed in the ELMCIP knowledge base under the identifier 4353. This record establishes the work's provenance and metadata within the field of electronic literature. The publication date is definitively recorded as 2010.