mailer_daemon AKA m_dΩΩ
The UseNet handle for an obscure and elusive recluse composer known for creating a diverse and detailed collection of digitally-disseminated multimedia. Posted throughout the 1990s', mailer_daemon[1] (m_d)'s oeuvre contains multiple volumes (or codices) of hyper-text poetry, including Spectral Peaks, the ominously-named I, Antichrist, and the bizarre and icy Meta Simulacrum, numerous diatribes or diary-like entries, scores and compositional directions, digitally-rendered visual art, diagrams for films, masks, and other paraphernalia, and plans for large scale multimedia works. Despite a late '90's upswell in public curiosity, the actual identity of mailer_daemon (m_d) remains unknown[2]
m_d appears to have been a digital autodidact[3] His work features a startling diversity of reference points (though often including errant or speculative information), including but not limited to Greek Mythology, neuroscience, simulation theory, general Christian apocrypha and gnosticism, ornithology, and quantum theory. Buddhism (specifically Tibetan Buddhism) often functions as a central touchpoint in m_d's work, though his relationship with the practice appears at times strained[4] His interests veer from the academic to the populist - at times heavily referencing toy action figure lore [5], video game lore, Japanese anime, hair metal, and action movie lore - with no apparent quality of judgement or change in tone. m_d's three codices of hypertext feature an internal manual citation system, sometimes nested upon itself. These codices do however take advantage of the Code-X Digital platform, occasionally displaying rudimentary coding and the inclusion of lo-res images (in I, Antichrist specifically). The texts display no direct poetic formal influence or training.
The first musical score shared by m_d online, "Neon Babylon", was a three-movement suite of electro-acoustic music scored for string quartet, harpsichord, synthesizers, anvil, orchestral percussion, Mahler box, and vocals. Lyrics for the piece were written in both Latin and German. m_d's fascination with what he called "sacred geometry" is on display in "Neon Babylon". Precise costuming directions were included in the score, including a number of foldable heavy paper masks - the largest of which was a minotaur mask to be worn on the head of the harpsichordist [6]. The suite begins with precise directions for the construction and destruction of a hexagon-insignia'd Mahler box, a gesture seen by many as a refutation of formalism and/or Christian dogmatism [7] "Neon Babylon" exhibits influences ranging from classical composition to jazz fusion. Performances of the work were few and fair between, only the relatively obscure experimental classical ensemble Shepherds of Apocrypha released a documented performance.
Although m_d is commonly portrayed as a tragic figure and associated with other reclusive outsider artists, his work bears hallmarks of the ecstatic (or at least manic) and high levels of compositional technique and internal coherence. However, the general state of his mental health remains a topic of debate - there are numerous references to schizophrenia and elektroshock therapy throughout his work (though few are written from the first person), and he refers occasionally to the experience of a personal "snow crash" - a term commonly thought to reference a mental breakdown. Over time, his postings became increasing difficult to parse - and even access.
Many of m_d's later UseNet postings were gated by cryptographical systems of varying degrees of complexity. The codes needed for Spectral Peaks and I, Antichrist were fairly straight forward and involved REDACTED. The solved codes then provided a hidden link to postings on MindVox's Code-X Digital platform. Two late diary-like entries exhibiting signs of mania employ relatively high-level code-breaking to access. Equally difficult to access was what later become known as the Meta Simulacrum, a posting revealing extensive plans for the execution of a culminatory, complex and almost comically ambitious multimedia piece entitled Millenium Rift.
A steroidal Gesamtkunstwerk on par with Karlheinz Stockhausen's unperformable 7-day epic "Licht", Millennium Rift calls for the construction of ornate masks and laser grids based on principles of sacred geometry. Most ambitiously, m_d includes plans for three interspersed videos featuring singers in bizarre and otherworldly locations. Despite Millennium Rift's compositional complexity, its sound is palette heavily influenced by 1980's pop and jazz, calling for the Yahama CS-80 (the Blade Runner sound) and KORG M1 synthesizers, heavily gated rototoms a la Phil Collins, and vocals treated by the Eventide H3000 harmonizer. Lyrically, m_d appears to have spent years culling lyrics from his various codices of hypertext, circling 'round his obsession with with Y2K[8]
Modern acolytes of m_d's works have attempted maps of his whereabouts based on the triangulation of IP address tracking, tracerouting, and clues in posted content. General consensus is that m_d spent the late 1970's to the early 1990's in New York City. In the early/mid 1990's, m_d appears to have entered into some kind of brief but blindingly intense relationship, eventually relocating to Los Angeles with his companion, at which point the relationship dissolved. After a short time in Los Angeles, m_d seems to have forgone returning to New York City, instead seeking out the desolation of the Mojave desert southeast of Los Angeles, somewhere in the Joshua Tree, Landers, or Salton Sea area.
- Ωhref# mailer_daemon :: Spectral Peaks.
Ωref# mailer_daemon :: I, Antichrist.
- ↑ An apparent reference both to Sophocles' daimon - a disembodied internal voice that guided all of his decisions - and an entity to which early computer programmers assigned undelivered email without clear cause or reason
- ↑ Earlier UseNet postings containing the insignias "clint", "clint.x" and "clint_23" have been, at times, been attributed to m_d, though the accuracy of those names is hypothetical.
- ↑ Much of his personal lexicon can be traced to various UseNet and BBS posting boards - a channel of information perhaps in part responsible for the simultaneously detailed and scattered reference materials.
- ↑ In a number of entries, m_d addresses a faceless "kadam", pummeling him with questions, often rhetorical or morose.
- ↑ Mainly Transformers and G.I. Joe.
- ↑ Despite the fact that such mask, when executed properly, almost entirely blocks the view of the player.
- ↑ The box, as with any three-dimensional cube, when unfolded, forms a cross.
- ↑ In numerous writings m_d espouses a belief that the world will end at 12:00am, January 1st, in the year 2000.