# The Silent Numbers

> creative work by Matthew Kirkpatrick

**Wikidata**: [Q132204288](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132204288)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-silent-numbers

## Summary
The Silent Numbers is a digital poetry work by Matthew Kirkpatrick, published in 2016. It belongs to the genres of electronic literature and digital poetry, leveraging web technologies to create an interactive literary experience. The piece is structured as a web-based application, combining code and creative writing.

## Key Facts
- **Publication Date**: 2016 (reference: ELMCIP ID 11559).
- **Author**: Matthew Kirkpatrick (reference: ELMCIP ID 11559).
- **Genres**: Electronic literature, digital poetry (reference: ELMCIP ID 11559).
- **ELMCIP ID**: 11559 (unique identifier in the Electronic Literature Knowledge Base).
- **Technologies Used**: Built with HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), PHP, and jQuery (reference: ELMCIP ID 11559).
- **Format**: Web page (primary distribution format).
- **Language**: English (language of the work).

## FAQs
### Q: Who created The Silent Numbers?
A: The Silent Numbers was authored by Matthew Kirkpatrick, as documented in the ELMCIP database (ID 11559).

### Q: What technologies power The Silent Numbers?
A: The work utilizes HTML, CSS, PHP, and jQuery, reflecting its web-native and interactive design.

### Q: When was The Silent Numbers published?
A: It was published in 2016, as verified by its ELMCIP entry.

## Why It Matters
The Silent Numbers contributes to the evolving field of electronic literature by merging poetic expression with web technologies. As a digital poetry piece, it exemplifies how programming languages like PHP and CSS can be tools for creative storytelling, challenging traditional notions of literature. Its existence as a web-based application underscores the growing role of digital platforms in hosting experimental art. By leveraging open-source tools such as jQuery, the work also highlights the accessibility of modern web development for artistic innovation. For scholars and readers, it serves as a case study in the intersection of code and poetry, demonstrating how interactivity and dynamic design can redefine literary engagement.

## Notable For
- **Technical Hybridity**: Combines PHP, CSS, HTML, and jQuery to create a unique literary-technical artifact.
- **ELMCIP Recognition**: Documented in the authoritative Electronic Literature Knowledge Base (ID 11559).
- **Web-Native Art**: Exemplifies born-digital literature designed for online interaction.
- **Open-Source Foundations**: Relies on widely adopted web technologies, ensuring accessibility and reproducibility.

## Body
### Creation and Publication
The Silent Numbers was authored by Matthew Kirkpatrick and published in 2016. It is cataloged in the Electronic Literature Knowledge Base (ELMCIP) under ID 11559, which classifies it as both "electronic literature" and "digital poetry."

### Technical Composition
The work is built using a suite of web technologies:
- **Frontend**: HTML (structure) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for visual styling.
- **Backend**: PHP, a scripting language for web development first released in 1995.
- **Interactivity**: jQuery, a JavaScript library simplifying DOM manipulation, is also utilized.

### Literary Context
As a digital poem, The Silent Numbers aligns with the broader movement of electronic literature, which emphasizes experimentation with form and medium. Its web-page format ensures global accessibility, distinguishing it from static print poetry.

### Accessibility and Format
The piece is distributed as a web page, requiring no specialized software beyond a standard internet browser. This accessibility reflects its reliance on open web standards (HTML, CSS) and popular frameworks (jQuery), ensuring compatibility with diverse devices.