What we did in class tonight

Unlike the post I put on the screen in class - this post describes what we actually did. We talked through the syllabus and the calendar. You introduced yourselves. And we talked about a definition of literature - how we know what it is.

You noted that it is tied to reading - and in that way "not for everyone" => elite. That it is connected to a particular time and place (and a particular set of values, usually dominant values; at the same time we perceive it as "timeless" or representing values that endure. We often associate religious texts with the literary, and we also think of particular forms: e.g. novels = literature; comic books = not literature. This discussion led us to think about how literature does not have a permanent set of characteristics - but rather it is connected to particular cultural values - usually "dominant" cultural values= values, language forms, and beliefs.

We then discussed (very briefly) values associated with the internet. We noted that some of the more creative "artists" and internet innovators often have values that fall outside the mainstream. We didn't go into this in detail - but it will be something to think about as we explore the nature of electronic literature.

We closed class with some suggestions about expectations. Electronic literature is NOT print. It often contains print but the strategies for reading electronic literature will necessarily be different that the "habits" you bring from the print world. As you look through the ELC collection - notice the expectations & strategies you bring to the texts. What do you like & why? What frustrates you and why? Be open to new experiences - because they are there - just waiting.

Great class tonight - and I'll see you next week.

For Monday:
1. Read N. Katherine Hayles Electronic Literature: What is it? up through note 67. Pay attention to the terms she develops and think about the way she classifies literature and how it compares to the classification we put on the board (novels, poems, drama & religious texts).

2. Start reading through Electronic Literature Collection Volume 1. Click the "All titles" at the bottom of the screen - and look at the keywords and think about how they connect to Hayles classification. As you look through the texts, pay attention to your expectations - what is fun? what is frustrating? what do you like and why?

3. Send me an email using the gmail account you will use for the course. This account should include some version of your name that I can recognize. You can use your Kean email if you choose. In this email let me know how your computer access is working with the electronic literature assignments for the course. If you have problems - give me some hints about what kind - so I can make a plan for solving them.