49112075 曾小芸

        Digital Literature using hypertext and interaction brings me a different point of view to digest and enjoy these works. These hypertext works are very unique from what we have read on the papers. It is like a game on text instead of ordered chapters which can be flipped how, when and where we love to. Hypertext works draw me to another world of literature where surprises lie. Here are some examples of the hypertext works showing why I think these codes of works are so amazing from the original type of literature.

        The most obvious differences of the original literature and the hypertext literature are based on their structure and organization. The literature we read in books is organized in orders. We read from page one to page two and move on in sequence. However, in hypertext works, readers do not read in orders but in random decisions. The decisions of the readers lead them into different consequences. For example in I Ching Poetry Engine, readers are in a universe different from words printed in blank papers. First we see a circle in the dark universe and 64 spots which are actually active nodes leading us to a new discovery. Once we choose five nodes, the lines of a poem fly into the monitor. After the words of the poem fly away and disappear, the I Ching circle comes back again for readers to discover another poem. There is actually no organization in this work; every reader gets different poems through different choices. In original textual literature, readers get to know the same information about it and also the same ending of the work. In Lies, readers also have a chance to have an interaction with the stories. After each statement, we choose “truth” or “lies” to indicate what we think about this statement. Different kinds of choices lead to different kinds of outcomes. Each reader gets different paths to experience the work.  Unlike what we have been used to read, hypertext works bring us surprises through their interface of codes and links.

        The stories which we read in books have their endings set in the final pages of the books. Taking the work, Clue, as an example, readers are like detectives themselves finding out clues. In original textual works, readers can turn to the last page of the book to find out what is going on without knowing other details of the story itself. However, in Clue, readers cannot treat to skip to the ending. We must find out step by step about the truth. We use our mouse to inspect the room, trying to find out if we have missed some clues. If we missed any clue, the system would automatically offer us to fill the missed clues. Readers cannot skip the procedures whatever they like as how they do in books. In Rice, readers also have to investigate every picture to find out the information about this work. Besides the structures of these works, their stories are different from original textual works through the setting as well. They bring readers a brand new methods and vision of reading literature through mouse clicks.

        The structure and stories are concerned about how the readers read these works; moreover, hypertext works are not simply literature but somehow similar to games. Readers not only observe from words and pictures but also are influenced by the music going along with the work. The most obvious effect that hypertext works give the readers impacts are the sensory effects, especially auditory effects. In Carving in Possibilities, first we see a sculpture of David in a really vague scene. Once we move on our cursors, a line appears along with a sound of carving. The sounds make us feel as if we are curving out the sculpture of David. The face of David becomes more and more vivid as we find out more and more information about the work. Also in Clue, the suspicious music draws our mind to a mysterious adventure. In the original textual works, readers can only use their imagination. When lacking of imagination about the work, readers can be distracted by other sounds. However, in hypertext works, these kinds of effects can make the readers stick on the stories. The effects can strengthen readers to be attracted in the visual world of text.

        In conclude, the structures, stories and effects of hypertext works bring literature to a new era. As readers go through the works, it is just like opening Christmas gifts which are full of surprises. We learn not only the works themselves but also the imagination of the ones who create them. While admiring for their design and imagination, our imagination from reading words on the books should still be maintained.