Hypertext Map

I don't have a scanner or a program to make a map, so I'll try to explain as best I can and bring in a paper copy to class. So far it's a very basic skeleton of the progression I hope to give my piece. The title is "Wanna see my Hypertext?" Each of the words links to a new screen with a definition and the ramblings of a story. From each of the screens after the first page there will be three words linking to new pages and new definitions/ story pieces. "See" and "my" are connected by one common lexia, as are "Wanna" and "hypertext." So it is possible to get two different strands of the story but not necessary. A reader will not be able to navigate through all four sections of the piece without starting over. The map itself looks like a giant web.

Sorry if this sounds confusing-- you can see what I mean a little better in class!

Hypertext Brainstorming

I should probably start this post with my motivation for my piece. John cheated a little and skipped the brainstorming step, so I've been "reading" his hypertext almost since he began it. One day while we were hanging out he asked me "Do you want to see my hypertext?" and I laughed as if he were using sexual innuendo. Later we were talking about including the line in his piece as an innuendo. That's when we got the idea that he would use the line in a lexia and I would use the line as my title. Right now I have a vague outline of my hypertext in my head, where the first screen will say "Wanna see my hypertext?" Each of the words in this first sentence will link to new screens with the beginnings of definitions that trail off into their own pieces of a nonlinear plot.

From these screens, the "reader" will have a few choices of links to click on and they will get more of the same (brief skewed definition leading to "plot"). My hope is that I can work the linked words into a single sentence at the end with a bogus "conclusion," that, if taken with a grain of salt, will lead the "reader" to a more concise understanding.

As I said, this is still very vague and I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with it, but I do know it will have a focus on language- the way it morphs, its nature as a communication tool, and the fun you can have with its misuse.

If anyone has any input I'd love to hear it. Or if the way I explained it isn't clear enough, let me know.

:)

Possible Review Assignment Ideas

Well, the site is down for maintenance but there is a specific piece I remember wanting to look into further. I believe the title is "Birds singing other birds' songs," although that could be a little off. I'm somewhat apprehensive about it because it's different than anything I've seen before (even in this class), but it really intrigues me. The title makes me curious to find a deeper meaning hidden in this strange text. All that I can physically see in it is the outline of birds in letter formations; different numbers and types of "bird" figures appear when clicking numbers at the bottom of the screen. This means that all elements, including sound are also very important. It seems like it will be fun but probably very frustrating to put meaning to this piece. But I tentatively look forward to it. :)

Edit:
"Strings" by Dan Waber also looks like something I might be interested in looking into further. From what I've seen of it, it seems like a very simplistic and somewhat childlike piece. But I would like to watch it a few more times and see if I can get something a little more complex out of it.

More than the other two, I think I'd be most interested in Alan Sondheim's "Dawn." It's very aesthetically pleasing and very annoying how the text disappears. I think I would experience lots of aggravation trying to figure it out, but I could probably have some fun along the way too. :)

FAQ About Hypertext

This piece was very interesting. It seemed bland in the beginning, but later on Holeton provided us with a plethora of gossip and sex intrigue. He gave us many outlandish in-depth explanations of Hypertext which were continually changing. He seemed to be poking fun or suggesting some type of secret society of which hypertext is he center.

Unlike Twelve Blue, the links to continue "reading" were all accessible at any time. In conjunction with the way his texts seeemed like privelaged information, the link setup seemed almost taunting. Yes, I could access any page that I wanted, but I was still in the dark about much of what he wrote.

The changing perspectives of the analysis of Hypertext were so (dare I say) silly. From code and jibber-jabber, Holeton brought us sex scandal, political implications, and TV show parallels. To me, this is either a way of portraying the nature of hypertext (that is-- we can unpack it in a variety of different ways) or like I previously mentioned, he is being facetious and suggesting that only the more highly-ordained can appreciate the work.

I found a few passages particularly entertaining because of their goofy nature:

The otherwise-dickless alien appears to relieve himself in the bushes (thee pee there) with a steaming stream of vinegar; super slow motion shows the corrosive effects on the foliage. Household vinegar has a pH of 3.0 (three), versus normal human urine (4.6 to 8.0).

Therefore, in the relentless logic of the Popular Interpretation, Magic Hat's corporate motto, “Where Ancient Alchemy meets Modern-day Science,” might also be the anthem of a poem in which 12th-century Abelard and Heloise meet Darrin and Samantha, and Stan Marsh and Wendy Testaburger, and all become word phrase puzzles on a Vietnamese Wheel of Fortune.

Either way, I did mostly enjoy the piece and laughed out loud a few times.

Twelve Blue

Considering the nature of electronic literature, I made it a point to break myself of trying to "read" the text from beginning to end, as one would a novel. I navigated through Twelve Blue alternating between clicking links on the left side of the screen and embedded in the text itself. I thought this would be confusing but there were still elements and characters that I was able to grasp.

The more time I spent in Twelve Blue, the harder it was to get where I wanted. Links became hidden- evaporated into the blue, and the plots and characters seemed to become more jumbled. I was able to recognize a few continuing themes, however. Michael Joyce presents us with an andonment theme with attempts at some sort of reconciliation. I also noticed an emphasis on death (specifically drowning.)

The piece seems to stress chaos over order and control. Ed (I forget his last name) is looking to remove control from the man with the BMW. He wants him to pay a high price for a photograph he ensures he will never recieve. The young boy who drowned was deaf and had little control in the situation. I, the reader/navigator, also found myself without much control. Though I did physically click each link, there was no right or systematic way in which I could feel satisfied that I got the whole story.

The links are also placed in different positions throughout Twelve Blue. Sometimes they're at the bottom of the text, sometimes in the middle somewhere. Though you can finish reading the passage before moving on, it seems to almost hint at not reading the ending-- perhaps that the ending is not what is important. If the ending is not the emphasis, perhaps this makes the characters or overall feeling more crucial.

Before making a statement about the intended meaning of the piece, I'd like to present a disclaimer that I really have no idea what it means.

With the repetition of blue and the drowning boy, I am led to believe that the unfortunate incident in the river is of great importance. And if the ending is not important, then perhaps his death is not the important part of it. Maybe it is instead important that he is remembered, is not a "minor character." Maybe the piece works as a way of concluding that a person's life outweighs their death.

I'm probably way off, and crazy, but that's what I see. =)