Links, webs and networks:Rhizomes and Hypertext

Rhetoricians such as Barthes, Foucault, Bakhtin and Derrida heavily influence Landlow’s discussion of hypertext and critical theory. Terms like link, web, network and interwoven are often related to hypertextuality. Landlow makes hypertext the main focus in his chapter. He argues for developing a theory that will accommodate a “new” form of text. In non-technical language, hypertext is text that can be linked to other texts. Derrida described that when active reader’s explore a text, they can refer to dictionaries with “morphological analyzers” that connect words to opposites, cognates and derivations (Landlow 33).

Hypertext is an intertextual system, which means it emphasizes intertextuality. It is a useful tool, especially with the emergence of the richer and dense text. Hypertext is a special form of text that can help us unpack and interpret complex literature. Hypertext can connect us to original texts and understand the rhetorical and historical context that it embodies. Essentially, this allows us to reach a newer level of understanding. Hypertext can connect us to original texts and understand the rhetorical and historical context that it embodies.

Deleuze and Guattari on the other hand, argue for books as rhizomes. Rhizomes allow the connection between multiple texts in across the board. It is referred to as a matrix of independent discourses, which means that there is a chance of something else developing or forming from the original books. Like rhizome, a hypertext can be understood as assemblages (Deleuzr & Guattari). A system for recognizing points of connection in a text can be facilitated by rhizomes.

One of the main and most important points that rhizomes and hypertext can bring us to is the thought of originality and remixing. If all text is connected to one original text then when can this text be truly considered original on its own. This is a challenge that readers are faced with when they come across different texts. Readers also faced the challenge of viewing texts as terms on their own or recollection of multiple terms to create one meaning. Although rhizomes and hypertext is not the same thing, they are reflective of one another, share many similarities, and are almost synonymous in meaning.