7. At the beginning of this lesson I pointed to the idea that technological advances in communication tools have been part of the impetus to rethink the divisive and hierarchical categorizing of literature and orality, and suggested that this is happening for a number of reasons.  I’d like you to consider two aspects of digital literature: 1) social media tools that enable widespread publication, without publishers, and 2) Hypertext, which is the name for the text that lies beyond the text you are reading, until you click. How do you think these capabilities might be impacting literature and story?

The incredibly fast-paced progression of technology has greatly influenced literature in the twenty-first century. The unprecedented increase in the use of social media has changed the interpretation and the relationship individuals have with stories.

As discussed in the lesson, there is a different dynamic between listening to and the reading of stories. As the listener of a story and the storyteller interact with each other the listener has the ability to change and influence the story. “Stories change depending on where and when and to whom they are told”(Paterson 1:2). In contrast, no matter how much an individual may agree, disagree, take offense, or adore a particular text, in most cases readers “will have little, if any, impact on the actual text” regardless of the impact the text may have had on them, as there is no interaction (Paterson1:2).

In the past, reading text has been a one directional flow of information while listening to stories is bidirectional and interactive. However, with modern day technology not only are there different dynamics between reading and listening to stories as discussed above, there is also a different dynamic between reading a book and reading an online publishing. With recent social media tools individuals now have access to “widespread publication, without publishers” (Paterson 1:2), and this new phenomenon has changed stories and the relationships individuals have with stories.

Today, almost anyone is capable of publishing a text online. There are little to no restrictions or standards individuals are required to meet to publish an online text. These “widespread publications” enable a wide range of perspectives, ideas and thoughts to be seen and heard (Paterson 1:2).

The way information is conveyed to an audience is crucial in determining how they will understand and perceive it. With online text, reading is no longer one directional. As most online publications include comment boxes, individuals from different cultures and backgrounds are able to interact with the author as well as other readers.  David Croteau’s term “ the global village” accurately describes how physical distance is no longer a barrier because of the availability and accessibility of information internationally; this is exemplified through online forums (Singer 123).

This progression of technology has allowed readers to acquire more of an objective view on particular topics by reading other’s opinions and ideas epitomizing Marshall McLuhan’s quote, “The medium is the message”(Chamberlin 70). While the medium, or how information is communicated differs, so does the audience’s perception of a story or a piece of literature.

Hypertexts :“the name for the text that lies beyond the text you are reading, until you click” have also had a significant impact on literature and stories (Paterson 1:2). Hypertexts allows “multiple perspectives and expressions to tell the same story”, they provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the context and description of the text (Huesca and Dervin).

The impact of these advances in communication technology on literature has been huge. New media has blurred the roles of, and the distinction between, the consumers and the producers of text. I believe that this helps deconstruct the hierarchical categorization of literature by leveling the playing field & opening it to all, and I would consider new media to be the “common ground” Chamberlin refers to in his text  “If This is Your Land, Where are Your Stories: Finding Common Ground” (240).

References:

Chamberlin, Edward. If This is Your Land, Where are Your Stories: Finding Common Ground. A. A. Knopf: Toronto, 2003. Print

Paterson, Erika. ““ENGL 470 Canadian Studies ;Canadian Literary Genres.”

University of British Columbia. UBC Blogs. 2014. Web. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl470/unit-1/lesson-12/

Singer, Jane B. Participatory Journalism: Guarding Open Gates at Online Newspapers. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print.

Huesca, Robert, and Brenda Dervin. “Hypertext and Journalism: Audiences Respond to Competing News Narratives.” MIT Communications Forum. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.