Hypertext by Marie-Laure Ryan

The seventh chapter of Marie-Laure Ryan's book Narrative as Virtual Reality deals with selective interactivity, or the hypertexts to be more exact. A hypertextual system is composed of fragments of texts that are electronicly linked to each other. Each fragment contains multiple links to several other fragments that will be displayed if the reader chooses to click on the respective link.

     In the seventh chapter, Hypertext: The Functions and Effects of Selective Interactivity, Ryan Displays an x-ray image of the theories that circulate the academic field. She initially catalogues types of interactivity, lists the effects of such texts, offers a text typology with detailed explanations and finally names the properties of electronic medium and its relevance to hypertexts. It is conveyed that there are different interpretive scenarios for the readers as they deal with hypertexts; each casting a tailoring a different role for the reader. One might consider such a reading experience like navigating through the landscape of text; solving a puzzle by trying to put pieces together or like walking in a supermarket with a shopping cart and putting the desired fragments of text in the cart. She observes that while the there are different approaches to the mode of creating a story out of the aforementioned fragments of hypertexts, the central goal on the part of the reader is to overcome the fragmented structure and achieve a coherent story.

     Furthermore, Ryan defines terms such as 'reactive interaction', 'random selection', 'selective interactivity', 'hypertext' and 'ergodic literature' in order to support her cluster of categories for forms of literature. Similarly, she lists variations of interactivity, atractive aspects of interactivity to the consumer, elements of the electronic medium and conceptualisations of interactivity.

     In the part which she calls an interlude, Ryan focuses on the hypertext Twelve Blue by Michael Joyce in order to practice these theories as well as to convey her conclusions. Ryan Points out the inconsistent and uncertain aspect of hypertexts: the reader of a hypertext is left uncertain whether he has read the full text after he seemingly finished reading. Additionally, the Reader is alone in his reading experience as communicating the individual reading experience is complex and complicated. However, every hypertext has a fixed entry Point, although the course of the reading experience is an individual one.

S. Ketenci & S. Plum

Twelve Blue by Michael Joyce

Reading a text in a classical print version or a hypertext in a digital version is a main aspect tackled in this text. Michael Joyce claims that reading hypertexts is a highly individual experience that is difficult to share. When a reader clicks on a certain word, one might reach a different description no one else has reached before. By knowing this, a discourse can be established between readers exchanging their different reception and understanding of the text. These different interpretations lead the readers to build up a cultural knowledge and makes reading an interesting experience. It is the dynamic of  the text and not the plot that makes reading an experience.

     In his short story Twelve Blue Michael Joyce tries to derive some cognitive lessons about the knots and  bolts of the reading process. Normally every hypertext starts with an entry address so that the reader knows what to expect or where the journey is going. In Twelve Blue this this is not the case, the entry is presented as a hallway with twelve corridors in different colors. It is the reader´s role to define the way of entering the story. It is a platform with twelve lines divide the picture into eight vertical bars. It is the reader´s role to click on any space he chooses to open a link to a short story, so the sequence of the story is determined by the reader and not the writer hence the adventure.

Screenshot: Twelve Blue

L. Chihabi

Ghost Texts and Hyper Texts

On the Birthday of a Stranger by Michael Joyce initially presents as a collection of several short textual elements which could potentially bare a connection, creating a continuous plot. While progressing through the 26 texts which are all accompanied by a single black and white image each, the reader soon notices that even though some stories share a similar topic, none have an actual connection that could be seen as a classical “story line”. The reader more or less creates his own story while reading the next. Apart from the 26 initial texts, each page also shows one phrase at the bottom, which is used in order to navigate through the story. As well as this the text also includes 7 “ghost texts” with coloured images, which the text can skip to randomly, during any point of the story.

     These “ghost texts” also create one of two major similarities between On the Birthday of a Stranger and Twelve Blue. Both texts change throughout the reading process. While Twelve Blue has certain textual elements which disappear after being clicked for the first time, On the Birthday of a Stranger presents with magically appearing stories, making the two works ergodic texts. The second similarity that can be found is that both texts present with a central “hub” or menu. While Twelve Blue presents with a piece of abstract art on almost every page, On the Birthday of a Stranger has a map, which can be accessed through almost every page by clicking on the “coordinates” highlighted in red. This means that in both cases the reader is given a guideline, something to orientate himself while trying to understand the concept of the text itself.

    The Brain Drawing the Bullet  is a fictional hypertext based on a real event, the murder case of W. S. Burroughs’ wife, Joan Vollmer, in Mexico, written by Alan Trotter. The story is told using the Cut-Up method, established by W. S. Burroughs, meaning that the element of “chance” is added to a text.  The hypertext presents with 10 editorial and 10 story related texts while the author’s own views of the events are constantly interrupting the reading.

         Another element which can be traced back to the Cut-Up method, is the ergodic nature of the text. Certain textual passages have the chance to change after, before or during reading, creating yet again a similarity to Twelve Blue. This might be the only similarity between the two texts that can be found. While both have certain story lines, The Brain Drawing the Bullet focuses on one character yet does not allow you to follow him due to the disruptive nature of the texts. There is a lot of repetition due to the fact that you are witnessing the constant retelling of an event. Additionally Alan Trotters text presents which a much simpler structure, with the complete text being visible on one page. The reader uncovers more and more text but does not actually skip from page to page. This also makes a menu, as presented in both On the Birthday of a Stranger and Twelve Blue, obsolete.

 J. Petri & K. Freeman