A Modern Ghost is a contemporary work of new media literature that employs themes of drama, and memory. This digital comic follows the introspective journey of a male narrator as he reflects on his relationship with an unnamed woman. As the reader progresses through the kinetic field, the intensity and significance of the relationship becomes evident. Coupled with the 22 illustrations throughout the work, the text itself displays the narrator’s struggles and sense of longing. The images are dark and mysterious, leaving much left to the interpretation of the reader. As shown below in the screenshot, the imagery in the story is heavily reliant on the idea of self-interpretation, and cameras are displayed frequently. This is one of the many central themes present, and the prospect of movement aids the presence of thought-provoking themes. With the cumulation of movement, personal reflection, and emotional intimacy, this work stands out amongst other electronic literature works, becoming a contemporary example of coinciding worlds.

As previously described, the text centers the narrative around the woman, the modern ghost herself. She defines loss and love for the narrator, but she herself provides commentary on self-reflection and the idea of objectivity. This cumulation of rich themes allows the reader to step into an imperfect and real relationship that demonstrates the tendencies and fallacies of human nature. Artemio Morales founder of Artmayu studios, in collaboration with Jon Morales, created this prototype story with an original soundtrack, illustrations, and poetics.

This analysis was written by Bella DeMarco for Melinda White's Spring 2025 Electronic Literature course, at The University of New Hampshire.