Introduction to Hypertext Literature in English (Spring, 2005)

This course is designed to introduce students to the study of the relationships between literary forms and digital media. Students will be encouraged to read interactively hypertext work, to break down the boundary between the writer and the reader, and most importantly, to conceive new methods of learning. From an overview of hypertext literature to readings of different genres, this course will focus on the following three respects: 1) revolutionary impact of technology and digital media (Internet in particular) on literary creation, research, and communication; 2) analysis, interpretation, and criticism on English hypertext literature; and 3) creativity and originality of literature in general.

*Download the course syllabus.   
  
Reading Materials:
No paper book is needed for this course. Log in the course website every week and link to the reading articles and hyper works.

Evaluation:

Participation & Attendance

Discussion Board

Oral Report

Homework

Final Project

15%

10%

25%

25%

25%

Participation & Attendance:
Students are expected to attend class punctually and to participate actively in both the class and group discussion. When not being able to attend the class, students need to inform the teacher in advance. No more than 2 excused absences will be permitted. Students¡¦ attendance, punctuality and participation will all be recorded for evaluation.

*1 absence = -2 points
*1 lateness = -1 point

Discussion Board:
Log on our discussion board (http://134.208.27.95/xoops/) as often as you can. Post whatever question you have concerning hypertext literature or respond openly and constructively to other visitors¡¦ opinions. This is a place where you can make your voice heard, especially if you¡¦re one who¡¦s shy to speak in class. The teacher will join your discussion whenever she can.

*Remember to indicate your name and student ID with every of your messages.

Oral Report:
In groups of three, you will be asked to look for background information and to give a 40-minute presentation in English on the literary work(s) and writer(s) you have chosen by yourselves or from the suggested reading list. The report should at least cover the following:

1) reasons for choice
2) introduction to the writer(s)
3) key vocabulary and concepts   
4) analysis and interpretation of the hypertext work
5) comparison with other works (either in English or Chinese; either hypertextual or textual) or
    other media (such as visual and audio).

During the report, you also have the responsibility to invite the class to participate and to answer questions from your classmates.
*One week ahead: 1) To report to the teacher your progress
                                 2) To let the class know your reading choice so that they can preview
*One week afterwards:
To hand in an organized paper covering the information of your oral report                                         1) E-mail to peichenliao@mail.ndhu.edu.tw prior to 12 AM.
                                        2) Burn a CD and give it to the teacher in class
                                        3) ftp://english:common@134.208.16.24
*NO late paper will be accepted.
*Download the rubric.

Homework:
You will have 5 homework including response and research papers, creative writing, homepage design etc..

Final Project:
You¡¦re free to decide the form and content of your final project, but most importantly, it shall at best show fully your learning from this course. Here are some suggestions:

      1) to create an English hypertext work of your own by using links, jpg., sound, etc.
2)
to create a Chinese version for one of the works read in class
3) to write an organized review of the reading materials
4) to compare hypertext literature with traditional literature in print by giving some significant
     examples
5) to argue the advantages and disadvantages of technology, esp. in respect of its impact on  
   
reading and writing

*Each of you will have 10-15 minutes to show your project to the class in the final two weeks before handing it in to the teacher.   
*See projects done by other students: Vanderbilt University 

 Schedule:

Week

Topic

Report

01 02/23

Syllabus

 

Introduction: Krumme, ¡§Are you Hypertextually Predisposed?¡¨

 

02 03/02

Electronic and Print¡X
1)  Jennifer Ley, ¡§This is not a book¡¨ (Vocabulary)
2)  Mark Bernsteain, ¡§Chasing Our Tails¡¨ (Vocabulary)

 

Reference:
1) The Book (from the "Non-linear Tradition in Literature")

2) The End of the Book
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03 03/09

Definitions¡X
1) Ilana Snyder, ¡§Interrogating the Terms¡¨ (Vocabulary)
2) George P. Landow, ¡§The Definition of Hypertext and It¡¦s History as a Concept¡¨

 

Homework 1

04 03/16

Seven Lessons for Gardening¡X
Mark Bernstein, ¡§Hypertext Gardens: Delightful Vistas¡¨

                          "Hypertext Gardens: Delightful Vistas" (pdf.)

                                   Vocabulary (new) 

 

Reference:
1) Dialogue with Mark Bernstein
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05 03/23

Hypertext Nonfiction¡X
1) Stuart Moulthrop, ¡§It¡¦s not What You Think¡¨
    (perhaps the world¡¦s first hypertextual letter to the editor)
2) Shelly Jackson, ¡§My Body & a Wunderkammer¡¨ (Vocabulary)

 

Reference:
1) Wunderkammer
    (Scientific curiosities, artefacts and ephemera)
2) Frankenstein: Presenting the secrets of nature
   (esp. the Celluloid Monster)
3) Patchwork Girl
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Homework 2 (see discussion board)

Section (A-G1): History with a Twist  (Vocabulary)

Non-fiction

06 03/30

Hypertext Nonfiction¡X
Edward L. Ayers, ¡§The Valley of the Shadow¡¨ (Vocabulary I)

 

Reference:
1) Outline of the Civil War (with links to the study of Abraham Lincoln)
2) The Music of the American Civil War

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Section (A-G2):  Talan Memmott, ¡§Self Portrait(s) [as Other(s)]"
Section (B-G1): Talan Memmott, ¡§Self Portrait(s) [as Other(s)]"

Non-fiction

07 04/06

No class!

 

08 04/13

Hypertext Nonfiction--
1) Edward L. Ayers, ¡§The Valley of the Shadow¡¨
2) Cold Mountain (Movie)

 

Reference:
1) Charles Frazier, "Cold Mountain Diary" (it described how the author found inspiration for his Civil War-era novel)
2) Cold Mountain reviews (including movie info, trailer, poster, photos, news, articles, forum, etc.)
 
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Homework 3 (write a war letter)

09 04/20

Mid-term Exam Week

10 04/27

How to Read Hypertext Fiction¡X
Mark Bernstein, ¡§Conversations with Friends: Hypertext with Characters¡¨
                          (Vocabulary) (PowerPoint for class discussion)

 

11 05/04

Hypertext Fiction¡X
Richard Pryll, ¡§Lies¡¨ (Vocabulary)
¡§Lies¡¨ in Chinese

 

Reference:
1) Introduction to the author, rix trix, pix & clix

2) §õ¶¶¿³¡A¶W¤å¥»¤p»¡¡G¡qÁÀ¨¥¡r¡AÁÙ¬O¯u¸Ü¡H
3) Doug Bonnema, "Analysis of Lies, a Hypertext Fiction by Richard L. 
     Pryll Jr"
Homework 4: Lies

12 05/11

Hypertext Fiction¡X
Stuart Moulthrope,
"Hegirascope 2 " (Version 2, 1997)
                              "Hegirascope 2 Index Table"
                               (Vocabulary) (PowerPoint for class discussion)


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Activity:
Queue the stopped automatic lexias into groups
Reference:
1)
§õ¶¶¿³¡A¡mº©¹Cºô»Ú¡n¡G©w®É³sµ²ªº§®¥Î
     (including links to other reviews)
2) Shuen-shing Lee, "How do I Cool Down the Overheated Medium?"
3) How do you create a timed link?
4) How do you take a screenshot?

Section (B-G2): Peter S. Johnson, ¡§So That You Might Hear Me¡¨

Fiction

13 05/18

Hypertext Fiction¡X
1) Stuart Moulthrope, ¡§Hegirascope¡¨ (1997)
                                   (Vocabulary 2) (PowerPoint for class activity)

 

Section (B-G3): 
Wee Liang Meng and Lam Koi Yao, ¡§A Tale of Two Cities¡¨

Fiction

14 05/25

Introduction to Hypertext Poetry: Old and New (Vocabulary)
1) e. e. Cummings, ¡§1(a¡K¡¨
2) John Hollander, "Swan and Shadow"
3) William Blake, ¡§To see a world in a grain of sand¡¨
4) Shakespeare Sonnet Puzzle

 

Reference:
1) Gericht, New Criticism of e.e.cummings' "L(a"
Internship: Learning to design your own homepage (PowerPoint)
Homework 5

15 06/01

Hypertext Poetry¡X
David Jewell, ¡§Insomnia¡¨
(Vocabulary)
                      Insomnia Survey

 

Section (A-G3): Panhandle
Section (B-G4): Click Poetry
 

Poetry
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16 06/08

Edward Cossette, ¡§Submariner¡¨ (Vocabulary)

 

Reference:
1) The Royal Navy Submarine Museum

2) NOVA Online--Virtual Tours
3) Submarine & Cold War History
Class Activity: Writing your own villanelle poem on "color"

17 06/15

Final project

 

18 06/22

Final project

 

Non-fiction (Suggested Reading List)
1) Nancy Kaplan, ¡§E-Literacies¡¨
2)
 Adrian Miles, ¡§Singin¡¦ in the Rain: A Hypertextual Reading¡¨
    (Cf. Kelly & Donen¡¦s 1956 musical Singin¡¦ in the Rain)
3)
 
Talan Memmott, ¡§Self Portrait(s) [as Other(s)]"
4) List of Hypertext Non-Fiction

Fiction
1) Stuart Moulthrope, Victory Garden
2) Ian Randall Wilson, ¡§If We Even Did Anything¡¨
3) Wee Liang Meng and Lam Koi Yao, ¡§A Tale of Two Cities¡¨
4) Peter S. Johnson, ¡§So That You Might Hear Me¡¨
5) Leni Zumas, ¡§Semio-Surf¡¨
6) Judy Malloy, Tom Igoe, Chris Abraham, Tim Collins, Anna Couey, Valerie Gardiner, Joseph  
   
Wilson, and Doug Cohen
, ¡§My Name is Scibe¡¨
7) Stuart Moulthroupe, Pax (2003)

Poetry
List of Hypertext Poetry

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For more information, enter each individual section.

Section (A) Section (B)


sunflower


Harvest at la Crau


LLandscape under Stormy Sky
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