Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1997 09:36
From: John D.
In reading Aarseth's article, I found the attempt to characterize nonlinearity interesting, but the actual definitions were rather vague.
For example,
"a nonlinear text is an object of verbal communication that . . . may differ from reading to reading"
because of a variety of textual conventions. How does this distinguish the hypertext (or maybe it doesn't) from the print text? Do we read a text the same way when we read it for a second time?
The example from Queneau helped a little in clarifying the mess. It seems like nonlinear texts are defined by a governing structure (the sonnet lines provided by the original "author"), which may then vary in particular experiences of reading (different lines may be selected by the individual reader). But does this mean, then, that nonlinear texts are little more than formalist innovation (e.g., Queneau's work, along with other menbers of Oulipo)?
Finally, I noticed that the Kairos Policy Regarding Links requests that authors conceive their ideas within a hypertext format from the beginning. "Kairos encourages the submission of 'native hypertexts' that utilize multiple internal nodes as well as links to outside resources. That is, we seek hypertextually composed works rather than broken up linear texts." Is it possible to detect structural differences in documents that are conceived in different terms (e.g., linear, and then transferred to hypertext versus "pure" hypertext)? If so, what are some of these differences?
Apparently I'm stuck in linear thinking. Any clarification (a more precise definition?) would be appreciated.
Date: Tue, 04 Feb 1997 15:33
From: Jon K.
Like John D., I seem to be stuck in linear thought. Last Tuesday while we composed the fairy tales in Storyspace, I kept asking myself, "What comes next chronologically, and how do I translate that to a non-chronological link?" It looks like I won't be submitting anything to Kairos any time soon. But I also think my difficulties with this thought process stem from it being new to me. I'm sure it will become more natural as the semester progresses.