Electronic literature

Definition

Electronic literature refers to literary works that are created, read, and experienced through digital devices. It includes a range of forms such as digital poetry, hypertext fiction, and interactive narratives that utilize the unique capabilities of digital media. This genre challenges traditional concepts of authorship, structure, and reader engagement, enabling new ways for stories to be told and experienced.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Electronic literature often blurs the lines between author and reader by allowing for interactive experiences where readers can influence the narrative.
2. The genre has grown with the advent of the internet and digital media, pushing boundaries of how stories can be told beyond traditional print formats.
3. Notable examples include works like 'Afternoon, a story' by Michael Joyce, which is one of the first hypertext fictions.
4. Digital poetry can incorporate visual art and sound, creating a multisensory experience that enhances the emotional impact of the text.
5. Organizations like the Electronic Literature Organization (ELO) promote and archive electronic literary works to ensure their preservation and accessibility.

Review Questions

• How does electronic literature change the relationship between authors and readers compared to traditional literature?
  • Electronic literature changes the relationship between authors and readers by creating a more interactive experience. In traditional literature, the author's role is more static, with readers passively consuming the content as written. In contrast, electronic literature allows readers to engage with the text actively, making choices that can influence the narrative direction. This participatory approach fosters a unique bond between authors and readers as they collaboratively shape the storytelling experience.
• Discuss how digital poetry exemplifies the characteristics of electronic literature and its impact on literary expression.
  • Digital poetry exemplifies electronic literature by utilizing digital technology to create innovative poetic forms that combine text with multimedia elements like sound, animation, and interactivity. This fusion allows poets to expand their expressive capabilities beyond traditional print poetry, exploring new rhythms, structures, and meanings. The impact on literary expression is significant as it challenges conventional notions of what poetry can be, inviting audiences to engage with language in dynamic ways that stimulate both visual and auditory senses.
• Evaluate the significance of hypertext fiction within the realm of electronic literature and its implications for narrative structure.
  • Hypertext fiction is significant within electronic literature as it fundamentally alters narrative structure by introducing non-linear storytelling through hyperlinks. This format empowers readers to navigate through different paths and outcomes based on their choices, which challenges traditional plot development. By allowing multiple narratives to coexist within a single work, hypertext fiction reflects the complexities of human experience and cognition, fostering a more personalized engagement with literature. The implications are profound as they encourage writers to rethink how stories can be constructed and consumed in the digital age.

Related terms

digital poetry:

A form of poetry that uses digital technology and media to create immersive, multimedia experiences, often incorporating sound, animation, and interactivity.

hypertext fiction:

A narrative form that utilizes hyperlinks to allow readers to navigate through various paths and make choices that affect the story's outcome.

interactive narrative:

A storytelling format where the reader actively participates in shaping the story's direction and outcome, often through decision-making or other interactive elements.