Literature on the Web
This experimental course will examine how the internet, the digitizing and electronic archiving of texts, and new technologies are transforming the way we read, write, and respond to literature. We will attend to the historical, social, political, and cultural implications of emerging textualities as we focus on hypertexting, textual intervention, and immersive mediums. To explore these approaches we will create new texts and text-based virtual reality environments, published on WMU homepages and Secondary World MOO. Our materials will including on-line syllabi, hypertext novels, cyberpunk fiction, archives, ezines, electronic games, web publishing, MOOs, blogs and so on.
The class was designed to be taught in the English Department's wireless, laptop classroom.' Literature on the Web' should appeal to students who are already interested in technology as well as to students who have little or no experience in this area but who are intrigued by literature and new approaches to studying and teaching it.
This class should engage student interest, creativity,
and deepen understanding of literature and culture. As an experimental
class it calls for unusual flexibility, independence, dedication,
and creativity. Attendance and class participation are essential;
missing more than four classes may lead to failing the class. If this
or other classes cause stress, Literature on the Web provides free
on-line therapy -- talk to Eliza!
Reading
Required:
Jackson, Shelly. The
Patchwork Girl
Gibson, William. Neuromancer.
Murray, Janet. Hamlet
on the Holodeck: The Future of Narrative in Cyberspace.
Essays in packet.
On-line essays, web sites, literary works, magazines, journals, and archives.
Optional:
McGann, Jerome. Radiant
Textuality: Literature After the World Wide Web.
Aarseth, Espen. Cybertext:
Perspectives on Ergodic Literature.
Landow, George. Hypertext
2.0: The Convergence of Contemporary Theory and Technology.
Wardrip-Fruin, Noah and Pat Harrington. First
Person: New Media as Story, Performance, and Game
Wardrip-Fruin, Noah and Lev Manovich. The
New Media Reader
Assignments
 |
Class Participation
(25%) |
Jan. 5, Wed. |
Introduction to the Class |
| Jan. 10, Mon. | History of the Present Read: "Origin of World Literature" from Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels; from Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson; "Cyberspace" from CyberReader by Benjamin Wooley; and, "Bitmapping" from Interface Culture by Steven Johnson Write: Drawing on these texts and your own knowledge, how do you think the emergence of the internet will effect the way people think and understand the world? |
| Jan. 12,
Wed.
|
Hypertext |
| Jan. 17, Mon. | MLK DAY |
| Jan. 19, Wed.
|
Hypertext Fiction Hypertext Reading Assignment. |
| Jan. 19, Wed. |
4-5:30 "Teaching About MLK," Sangren Hall 2304 |
| Jan. 24, Mon. Jan. 26, Wed. |
Read: The Patchwork Girl Shelly
Jackson Extend: Frankenstein (Electronic Text Center), Georgetown Resources, National Institute of Health, Mary Shelly, Storyspace, Comments on The Patchwork Girl, Hayles' Essay, Patchwork Girl of Oz. Write: Notes on reading The Patchwork Girl |
| Jan. 31, Mon. Feb. 2, Wed. |
On-line Literary Archives |
| Hypertext Workshop |
|
| Feb. 14, Mon. | Textual Intervention Read Textual Intervention: Critical and Creative Strategies for Literary Studies by Rob Pope, Chapter 1 (handout) |
| Feb. 16, Wed. | Tour some new archives. Brainstorm some textual intervention possibilities. |
| Feb. 21, Mon. |
Textual Intervention
workshop Textual Intervention Project: Create your own "textual intervtion" and write at least a paragraph about how this intervention effects the meaning of the source text. Due: Mar. 7 (Post on your own homepages website.) |
| Feb. 28 - Mar. 4 | Spring Break |
| Mar. 7, Mon. | Immersive Environments Read: The Library of Babel by Borges, Essays: The Dream of Cyberspace, The Library of Babel and the Internet Examine: Design Images, Atlas of Cyberspace |
| Mar. 9, Wed. | Imagining the Future Read: Neuromancer, by William Gibson Neuromancer Study Guide |
|
Mar. 14, Mon. |
Future of Narrative? |
|
Mar. 16, Wed. |
Read: Finish Hamlet on the Holodeck |
| Mar. 21, Mon. Mar. 23, Wed. |
Immerse Yourself in MOOS and
MUDS |
| Mar. 30,
Wed. |
Imagine Your
Own Literary MOO |
| Apr. 4, Mon. |
Build Your Own MOO: Workshop |
| Apr. 21, Thu. 12:30-2:30 | Final Exam MOO Exploration |
Student WorkDavid Gardner
Joe Haughey, "ExperienceShakespeare.Org"
Todd Ide
Samantha Mckenzie
Josh Neimier
Marilyn Williams, "Elizabeth's Story," "This is Just to Say"Additional On-line Resources
Electronic Labryinth A resource for writers, good background.
Resource Center for Cybercultural Studies
The Association of Internet Researchers
Short History of the Internet by Bruce Sterling
Literature Resources-Hypertext by Jack Lynch, Rutgers Newark
Other "Literature on the Web" Courses
Literature and Hypertext Carolyn Guertin, Athabasca University
Internet Studies Derek Stanovsky, Appalachian State University
Cyberculture Brian Alexander, Centenary College of Louisiana
Cybertext Ian Lancashire, University of Toronto
Hypertext Fiction and Theory, Rita Raley, University of Minnesota
The Computer and the Text Jason Rhody, University of Maryland
Advanced Hypertext Fiction Robert Arellano, Brown University
Hypertext Literature and Theory Len Hatfield, Virginia Tech
Imagining the Internet Jillana Enteen, University of Central Florida
Hypertext Reading and Writing David Miall, University of Alberta
Hamlet in Hyperspace David Soloman, University of ConnecticutPrevious Student Work