Rettberg's Video, Hypertext Fiction of '80's and '90's Notes

Rettberg on Hypertext Fiction of the 80's and 90's

(disappointing presentation).
-from the Electronic Literature Communities.
-aspects of ELC in U.S.
-hypertext in era leading up to web -
-centering on Eastgate.
-period of eloquent literature.

-"how to think about community" -
-tradtionally idea of community was cuz of geography.
-this community isn't same -
-what defines a 'community' of hypertext writers?
-event by Dana Lawson - pictures shown depicting gathering.
-events get community together and vibrant.

-one of ways of thinking of 'community' is looking at artifacts.
-the technology is important aspect when considering community.
-one of definitions of community is shared origin -
-this phase of electronic lit community was about shared tool/shared technology.
-idea of shared hx.
-Bush, Nelson - need to understand computers and spread.

-'87 - one of first events where hypertext discussed was hypertext conference where hypertext discussed w/ more people.
-500 people wanted to show up.
-Joyce and Bolter first present afternonn, a story.
-also present StorySpace - tool for writing hypertext fiction.
-StorySpace dominates from late 80's to mid-90's.
-this leads to Eastgate publishing house developing/taking over StorySpace.
-they publish hypertext.
-one aspect of how community formed or is defined/made visible - technological tool.
-were other hypertext communities formed around other types of hypertext authoring tools.

-StorySpace is system where wrote hypertext and it bcomes self-contained entity.
-then put on disk and sell.
-could be very complex.
-more complex than early HTML.
-conditional links - only see one page if had already visited another page.
-more visual
-use of maps and images.
-when Web in infancy.

-have tools and works and events.
-early works grounded around events/hypertext conferences.
-conferences were science conferences.
-but had strong humanities element there.

-common enemy - books. (?)
-Robert Cougar(?) - import. in early years.
-Brown University - course on hypertext writing.
-'92 - publishes article in NYTimes called "The End of Books."
-introduces hypertext lit to bigger audience.
-describes workshops at Brown.
-workshops at Brown are another node of this network/community.
-were grounded in place - physical meeting place(?)
-books were "last futile gasp of a once vital form before it finally passes away forever, dead as God."
-gives impression of books as common enemy.

-distribution access very diff from books.
-there was one electronic publisher and books sold on disks.
-fairly traditional publishing model.
-BUT - found interview w/ Joyce where discussing how people could read afternoon when he hadn't given to publisher yet.
-SO, there's this underground spreading/passing on of literature.
-this continues during time when had "flash drives."
-evidence of a community of readers.
-all above centers around Eastgate and StorySpace.

-other technologies used - HyperCard.
-BUT - is called Eastgate Era cuz that publisher dominant.

-the Web arrives - resistance to Web from this community early on.
-would see hypertext on this and still wanted to see on disk - then is more fully treated.
-Stuart Multhrop???? - (can't understand her words) - early author.
-says that at '96 hypertext conference that Web is here and have to deal w/ reality of the Web.
-there was resistance.
-Web too simplistic - doesn't do justice to rich hx of community.
-w/ Web, then had online meeting places.
-HyperText Hotel - orginated from workshops at Brown.
-students wrote in this environment - then opened up to others.

-mailing lists as well - HT_Lit is one.
-advertised events.
-Deeny Larsen very involved - organized conferences.
-organized writing workshops and this leads to CyberMountain Colloquium.
-NOTE: connection of online and physical meeting places.

-online sources for hx of hypertext fiction.
-trip reports from conferences.
-published in articles.
-but these deal w/ content and not community.

-interesting seeing parallels between diff hx's of communities. (huh?)
-wants to interview participants during early years and get views.
-Deena Larsen
-Michael Joyce
-Stuart Moulthrop
-Stephanie Strickland
-Sue Thomas - Britain
-etc.
-wants to see journals and logs.
-wants to document online discussions.