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Module 1
Introduction
and Web 2.0 Bootcamp
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Activities/Assignments
● First Day of Class (May 26th)
1) Join
Twitter
2) Follow
instructor: @JessL
● by May 27th send
an introductory tweet with the
class hashtag: #EXSM3989
● on or before May 30th
○ Class Blog: Add a comment
on the Module 1 post – introduce yourself and share with us
your thoughts on this week’s readings/video |
Topics
- Introduction
- Web 2.0 Bootcamp (getting your online profile started; Twitter, Class Blog, Flickr, Animoto)
- What is literature? What is the literary? How do born digital texts affect literature?
- Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, you should be able to:
● Identify and describe aspects of born-digital texts
● Begin to establish your online presence with which to craft your narratives
● Explain what is meant by web 2.0 and how web 2.0 technologies are altering narrative
Readings
1. Weblink:
Rives. (2007). “The 4 A.M. Mystery.” (Video file). Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/rives_on_4_a_m?language=en.
2. Weblink:
Hayles, N. Katherine. (2007). “Electronic Literature: What is it?” Retrieved from http://www.eliterature.org/pad/elp.html
3. Weblink:
Carr, Nicholas. (2008). “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/
4. Weblink:
Shirky, Clay. (2008). "Why Abundance is Good: A Reply to Nick Carr.” Encyclopaedia Britanicca Blog. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2008/07/why-abundance-is-good-a-reply-to-nick-carr/.
5. Weblink:
Carr, Nicholas. (2008). "Why Skepticism is Good: My Reply to Clay Shirky." Encyclopaedia Britanicca Blog. Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2008/07/why-skepticism-is-good-my-reply-to-clay-shirky/
6. Weblink:
Breuklander, Joel. (2013). “Literature is Dead (According to Straight White Guys, At Least).” The Atlantic. Retrieved from: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/07/literature-is-dead-according-to-straight-white-guys-at-least/277906/
7. Weblink:
Glia. (2010). “51 Responses: What Inspired You To Get Involved with Digital Literature?” (Video file). Retrieved from: http://glia.ca/2010/ELO/51responses.html.
Some excellent readings here! Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it useful Rudy. What would be some of your responses to Gila's reasons for becoming involved with digital texts?
ReplyDeleteInteresting reads! I especially enjoyed Katherine Hayles article - she gave me some insight into the differences between electronic literature and print. I for one had never acknowledged the fluid and interactive nature of electronic literature. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe Atlantic article was also insightful. I was intrigued, and then slightly horrified, about the mechanical clock reference, haha.
Thanks for your comment Bree. I always have trouble with diametrically opposed assertions. I appreciate that Hayles, like many scholars, note how electronic literature has built on print possibilities; making the interaction more apparent for one.
DeleteAs Iser might have commented; reader response theory was born out of print works.
DeleteThe readings this week had a lot of information. I had not thought about electronic literature before and it opened my eyes. I loved the Ted video. For me it was flowery and easy to follow and link together. The 51 responses held less appeal. Not sure why but it did. The Hayles article provided much information on what electronic literature is but was very dry to get through. I did however learn. I had not thought of literature as including animation or video before.
ReplyDeleteThe articles between Clay and Shirky were interesting. I though they both had good points and I liked the lighthearted banter between the two. I enjoy history and I could relate to both the arguments and will use the arguments when confronted with statements at my book club regarding the future of literature.
Brueklander was trying to hard to create a rise in the reader. It was divisive and I found it had to many faulty premises. I cannot agree that only straight white males think literature is dead. The article appeared to incite people so if that was his purpose then well done.
Hello digital companions of EXSM 3989!
ReplyDeleteNo viral content here, but I am hoping to enrich my understanding of digital narration and apply to relevant communications endeavors. I would be delighted to grow my digital storytelling abilities.
Module 1’s readings broadened my knowledge of critical analyses on various Internet impact related topics.
I agree with Nicholas Carr’s assessment of the effects of the Internet, as they relate to reading behavior, drifting concentration, and the overall nuances of how this medium is shaping our neurological wiring. And according to Bruce Friedman, the latter is also “altering our mental habits.”
Like Carr, I find myself ‘tripping’ from link to link, often without purpose, akin to TV channel surfing pre satellite and PVR days. The evolution of technology and Web 2.0 has enabled a larger volume of traffic and greater reach with similar intent of promoting products, ideas and entertainment.
In the noise of abundant content, amiss is our ability to optimally filter. We use our own — not always discerning and often distracted — judgment to determine click-worthy-able content, depending on time of day, location, and other malleable variables.
The readings were rich and provoked thought on the influence of Internet use, the great culture shift of print v. online and the creation of new forms of expression.
I appreciated the style of presentation — personal and light — of Gila’s “51 Responses: What Inspired You To Get Involved with Digital Literature?” and took the opportunity to make a list of participant sources for further exploration of the digital medium.
I spent some time this week reflecting on my own transference of online to offline behavior… and I still have a stack of books at my bedside.
I currently work at the European Union Centre of Excellence at the University of Alberta in a communications capacity.
Looking forward to learning and growing…
In reviewing the writings of Clay Shirky and Nicholas Carr . one poignant topic struck a chord within my own career. “But the anxiety at the heart of “is Google Making Us Stupid” doesn’t actually seem to be about thinking or even reading but culture.” (Clay Shirky)
ReplyDeleteThe digital world has altered our cultural existence in a bevy of aspects. From literature, art, dance, music there is not cultural stone left unturned. Our globalization via the digital realm has cross-pollinated our unique cultures and has all been allotted a web address. As I send in submissions as an artist, I am well aware of the persistence of the digital influence. Often enough buyers / viewers will review art online; some art is even created via computer. Artists are becoming more and more marketers, promoters, web site gurus, and social media fanatics (I speak for myself here).
The conundrum posed by Katherine Hayles in regards to the evolution of literature, and the opposing forces of digital born literature vs. traditional print literature certainly posed an interesting thought. As we have shifted, are we able to see the difference between digital born literature vs. literature? Are their difference forms of literature ( ie. Flash Poetry) that have emerged to take the place of the handwritten word.
The Breuklander article certainly awoke a battle in regards to the prevalence of the dominant “male” opinion. Are our subject matter choices in literature, as well as in art, becoming more shocking and stark?
With these first few readings, I must say I was left with more questions than answers, but certainly some interesting thoughts that I scribble into my notebook… and yes it is a handwritten notebook.
I agree with Samantha about being left with more questions than answers. On the one hand, I was disturbed by the idea that the internet could be changing the way my mind works to the point that I can't concentrate on one idea or text for long. This was especially driven home for me by the fact that I haven't done much academic reading in the last few years and I found a lot of these readings difficult to concentrate on. Hayles article in particular, went right over my head for the most part when I'm sure a few years ago it wouldn't have.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I really resonated with Sharky's point that literature, once considered the vulgar upstart, became the new high culture. I tend to sympathize with the need to uphold the reverence of past ideals and works as being classic and timeless.
But I also find the idea that things that we may consider vulgar, low-brow, or mainstream can be re-invented and re-imagined until they become something that transcends. The thought that these new mediums will produce works that become the new high culture is thrilling. I always find art more magical when it is trying to break free from the established values and ideals.
I also really love that the widening of participation in new media compared to old means that there is so much more work coming from all over the world. Far from being dead, I think that can only bring new life to literature.
Things can't stay the same, culture can only change and evolve and grow or it will die. I just hope we can embrace that without losing the beautiful and important things that came before.
I agree that the norm now seems to be to collect snip-its of information rather than devoting time to longer works that have become viewed as too time consuming. There is an apparent tendency to gravitate towards coles notes or 'executive summary' versions. There really is such an abundance and variety of information out there that lengthier reads appear limiting. I also agree that this, at least in part, due to a reduced ability to concentrate. As I sat and read these articles, I too was falling victim to a shortened attention span and non stop distractions...dogs are barking, a television is on in the next room, I'm receiving text messages, ads wee blinking in the side bars, the pile of laundry on the floor remaining from a recent vacation continues to catch my eye, suddenly appearing urgent.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, it is true that the increased availability of information made possible via the internet has enabled and even encouraged us to read more now than we did 30-40 years ago. An example of this is how my employer is gravitating towards lynda.com learning & development opportunities for staff. In learning Microsoft Excel, for example, rather than spending time in 2-3 days course, Lynda.com allows the employee to conduct their learning in 'snip-its at times that are convenient for them. We are learning more on a continuous basis, even though we are taking in smaller chunks of information as a single time.
I see the benefit in the access to abundance, but also understand how skepticism in necessary in determining what information you allow. There is further the value in perspective that one must take the time to truly understand the information you are consuming.
I agree with you Melissa- It is amazing to watch myself struggle over more than a page, and not check my email, Twitter, etc. Is that a result of this instant 140 character driven media world? Is it maybe the result of the technology systems such as I Phones demanding our attention 24 hours a day, or do we have a genetic predisposition to change and alter our behaviors to the existing environments?
DeleteThank you Melissa and Samantha - I agree. We are not the only ones who have succumbed to this digital syndrome. Symptomatically, one can relate to taking on behavioural characteristics and outputs of the technological mediums we enjoy and employ. Such as newly created expectations - This subject is explored in CBC's The Current: "Are we faking cultural literacy" that examines, in part, the effects of not only access to abundance, but also content being thrust upon us. http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2014/06/03/are-we-faking-cultural-literacy-1/.
DeleteWe are now expected to be experts in a wide variety of topics and where Jay-Z/Beyoncé/sister elevator debacle becomes a social commonality to which we all have access and to which we gravitate. In the past, expertise was often ascribed to academics and the social elite.
Jian Ghomeshi's Q also explored this phenomenon in a recent Q debate: http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2013/10/23/qs-first-debate-show-tackles-internets-effect-on-intellects/ and ironically, including in a separate interview featuring EXSM's own Nick Carr http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2009/11/05/is-the-internet-making-us-stupid-1/ (interview no longer available).
We are products of the environment we choose to create. And thus my reference to having an appropriate filtering mechanism that have the potential to mitigate nefarious effects. As Melissa also suggested "how to determine what information you allow". Not only 'what' information, but equally important is the 'how'.
Having said this, we still need to adapt to and evolve with forward momentum.
Digital born reflects human born
ReplyDeleteHumans are natural born storytellers: expressing themselves through cave pictographs, oral tales, kubuki-style plays and traditional literature. Digital format is the most recent popular storytelling medium but some people are concerned “the [brain] circuits woven by our use of the Net will be different from those woven by our reading of books and other printed works.” Nicholas Carr highlights these concerns in his magazine article, “Is Google making us stupid?” I would argue, however, that digital born rather than print materials are a truer reflection of the human multi-sensory approach to understanding the world.
Recall your earliest childhood memories of “reading” a storybook with an adult. The book contained bright pictures, few words, 3D pop ups and textures to touch. Your adult would read aloud in a funny voice and repeat a section whenever you wanted.
Many modern electronic literature pieces re-create this multi-sensory, non-linear approach to storytelling using hyperlinks, video, sound, music and user interaction capabilities. The works tend to be abstract and require viewers to use process information in a spatial and sensory way. Revealing the way humans innately take in the world around them.
Some of the best of examples of eliterature are found in a two volume online collection referenced in "Electronic Literature: What is it?" by Katherine Hayles. My personal favourite example from the online collection is “Entre Ville” -- J.R. Carpenter's homage to her former Montréal neighborhood. It incorporates poetic text and videos documenting the texture and sounds of the back alleyways. A picture really is worth a thousand words and it more easily spans ages and cultures. Digital born reflects human born.
Yes! Your example of children's literature is spot on. Of course too, we could go back to Plato and oral storytelling and how each telling would change with each "author." But yes, exactly my point above, that digital fiction (of course this is not true for all but a generalisation) builds upon or makes clear (exaggerates perhaps) multimodalities and reader interaction.
Delete