Support Independent Arts Journalism As an independent publication, we rely on readers like you to fund our journalism and keep our reporting and criticism free and accessible to all. If you value our coverage and want to support more of it, consider becoming a member today. We want to hear from you! We value your perspective, and your feedback is crucial in helping us shape the future of our publication.
If you haven’t yet taken our 2024 Reader Survey , please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us. We rely on your support to make arts journalism and criticism available to all. Join us today to help Hyperallergic thrive in 2024.
Become a member PHILADELPHIA — Do you remember who taught you to type on a desktop QWERTY keyboard? There’s a chance it may have been the fictional character Mavis Beacon, a made-up entity from the popular education software game Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing released in 1987. Despite the fervor that followed the software through multiple editions, the story of the real woman who portrayed Mavis Beacon remained hazy and untraceable until director Jazmin R. Jones and computer programmer Olivia McKayla Ross joined forces for a new documentary.
Seeking Mavis Beacon (2024), a feature documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and recently screened at BlackStar Film Festival in Philadelphia, follows Jones and Ross as they meander through multiple avenues in search of the elusive model whose image represents one of the most icon.
