Week 5 – Readings

In this week’s reading George Landow discusses the idea of hypertexuality and how it radically changes the experience that reading, writing and text signify.

Hypertext moves the boundary of power away from the author to the reader, which changes the rudimentary experience of text, information and control.

It has enabled new kinds of discursive prose (academic essay, book review and thesis) with an emphasis on linking to varying translations and reference materials, “we must write with an awareness that we are writing in the presence of other texts.” Early examples include CD World Bible and Chinese Literature Web.

The Blog:

The blog is another “new kind of discursive prose in digital form that makes us rethink a genre that originally arose when writing took the form of physical marks on physical surfaces.” Blogs take the form of an online diary or journal in dated segments presented in reverse chronological order with the newest posts presented first.

Hypertexuality in blogs is present in two ways:

  • Firstly bloggers can link chronologically distant entries to each other, allowing readers to gain a better understanding of context without repeating oneself.
  • Blogs also permit readers to comment on posts and use the trackback feature which allows you to post links back to the site of anyone who commented on them.

Public vs. Private:

One of the most interesting effects of blogging is the way it blurs the line between what we consider the public and private spheres.

Landow writes about coming across a young woman’s blog in which she discusses her sexual experiences. He writes about the easily identifiable recognition of the author despite writing under “Blaise K” due to personal details and photographs.

He determines, “It is very difficult to maintain this kind of public privacy.” At first the idea of public privacy seemed like a contradiction but I understand what he is referring to. The content of the Sex-and-the-City-esque blog is perhaps meant for her friends but it is very hard to discriminate between public and private. How much to do share about yourself? You want to be honest and free but in this instance, does this blogger really want her parents and employers reading her entries?

I think it is important to always think about audience when publishing online. I guess not only whom you want to read your work but also those who you might not want to but inevitably will.

Look at me, look at me!

Are bloggers narcissistic? I think there is a common conception that you have to be slightly egotistical to blog about your life and to think that people will not only read your posts but also actually care about what you have written. Obviously this doesn’t apply to all blogs, but I would say most blogs are fairly self-indulgent.

McNeill suggests that some blogs “often reinforce the stereotype of the diary as a genre for unbridles narcissism” because they assume that readers are interested in what they have to say.

It is a successful blog that strikes the right balance between being unguarded and authentic and having a strong individual voice whilst not alienating readers through over-personal anecdotes and ramblings.