Session Details

Friday, 28 December

317. Electronic Literature: Reading, Writing, Navigating

3:30–4:45 p.m., Columbus Hall K and L, Hyatt Regency

Program sponsored by the MLA Ad Hoc Committee on the Structure of the Convention in conjunction with the MLA Committee on Information Technology

Presiding: Susan Schreibman, Univ. of Maryland, College Park

1. “Exploring Electronic Literature,” Helen DeVinney, Univ. of Maryland, College Park; Jessica Pressman, Univ. of California, Los Angeles

2. “Sculpting E-Poetry in Fractal Space: ConTextTree,” Jeremy H. Douglass, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara

3. “Selections from Selections,” Christopher T. Funkhouser, New Jersey Inst. of Tech.

4. “Reading Unwritten Poems: Developing Critical Tools for Electronic Literature,” Davin Heckman, Siena Heights Univ.

5. “ Beta Writer: Portrait of the Author as Early Adopter,” Mark Marino, Univ. of Southern California

6. “No Exit in Sight: Navigating Giselle Beiguelman’s ‘Esc for Escape,’” Elizabeth Swanstrom, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara

7. “ RolandHT,” Vika Zafrin, Brown Univ.

N. Katherine Hayles has described electronic literature as “‘digital born,’ a first-generation digital object created on a computer and (usually) meant to be read on a computer.” The Electronic Literature Organization describes it as “works with important literary aspects that take advantage of the capabilities and contexts provided by the stand-alone or networked computer.”

This poster session provides the opportunity for attendees to engage firsthand with works of electronic literature, to meet with electronic literature authors and theorists, and to engage with interactive computer presentations of their work. Presenters will exhibit their work simultaneously, creating ample opportunity for discussion and demonstration.

Program Archive