When
thinking about the term "hypertextuality," the first thing that I
think of is a hyperlink. Meaning, the hyperlink is submitted in a text to
further prove a theory or as a second resource. Derrida explains
hypertextuality by "...properly recognizing (in advance, one might say)
that a new, freer, richer form of text, one truer to our potential experience,
perhaps to our actual if unrecognized experience, depends upon discrete reading
units" (33). In this presentation of hypertextuality, Landow explains
multivocality, decentering, rhizomes, the nonlinear model of the network in
current critical theory and cause and convergence. Through these illustrations
Landow builds on different forms of hypertextuality and cases in which
hypertextuality is presented through networks.
When
speaking about a hypertext and multivocality, a hypertext draws attention to more
than one voice. "In terms of hypertextuality this points to an important
quality of this information medium: hypertext does not permit a tyrannical,
univocal voice. Rather the voice is always that distilled from the combined
experience of the momentary focus, the lexia one presently reads, and the
continually forming narrative of one's reading path" (36).This correlates
to the idea of having many narratives presented in one story. To further help
myself understand exactly what Landow means when speaking about a hypertext and
multivocality, I tried to think of ways that I have seen multivocality in a
text. I then remembered that I was watching a presentation of how to give a
presentation via YouTube. The presentation has a man drawing and speaking about
exactly how to give a great PowerPoint presentation. So, to correlate this to
Derrida, while I am listening to the voice and have a momentary focus on what
he is saying, the lexia presently reads which continued forming a narrative of
the reading path. When inserting this link into the passage, I am practicing
hypertextuality. I inserted a "hyperlink" which then correlates to
the idea of adding another text through the original text.
The
next case of hypertextuality that Landow focuses on is decentering.
"Hypertext, in other words, provides an infinitely recenterable system
whose provisional point of focus depends upon the reader, who becomes a truly
active reader in yet another sense" (36). Hypertextuality has no
organization but rather composes a metatext of ideas. The idea of a hypertext
being 'decenterable' is because a person can choose whether or not they would
want to understand or participate in all of the hypertextuality in a reading.
Take for example a scholarly article that has multiple hyperlinks readily
available. The article most likely puts these hyperlinks for a reference for
the reader. The hyperlink tried to help extend the knowledge of the reader but
the reader is not forced to engage in the hypertextuality. "All hypertext
systems permit the individual reader to choose his or her own center of investigation
and experience" (38).
Landow
then refers to hypertextuality as rhizome. originally, one would think of a
rhizome in science and study the components in a rhizome. However, in
rhetorical theory we look at the function of a rhizome and try to understand it
from a literal sense. Landow refers to the ideas of Deleuze and Guattari's
explanation of plateaus to show that all parts of a text are key components in
understanding characteristic organization. "A rhizome is made of
plateaus" (39). "Gregory Bateson uses the word 'plateau' to designate
something very special: a continuous, self-vibrating region of intensities
whose development avoids any orientation toward a culmination point or external
end" (39). The rhizome acts as the point that connects a body of ideas to
another point. Landow explains rhizomes as a connection point because rhizomes
don't link points that are identical; they link differing and correlating
points at the same time. To further explain, I found this quote beneficial n
regards to rhizomes and plateaus: "...a rhizome is a map and not a
tracing. Make a map, not a tracing. The orchid does not reproduce the tracing
of the wasp; it forms a map with the wasp, in a rhizome. What distinguishes the
map from the tracing is that it is entirely oriented toward an experimentation
in contact with the real"(41). To further help analyze this, I looked at a
diagram of an orchid. When looking at the orchid, the diagram really emphasizes
the interconnection process of an orchid. The interconnection system of an orchid
directly correlates to the idea of hypertextuality.
Landow
then presents the idea of the nonlinear model of the network in current
critical theory. "The term network refers to an electronic system involving
additional computers as well as cables or wire connections that permit
individual machines, workstations, and reading-and-writing-sites to share
information" (42). Landow then emphasizes the importance of a network
within hypertextuality. I found this part of the text to be the most interesting
and realistic to the editing, writing and media field of study. For purpose of
this post and to aid my understanding, I want to explain the full detail of a
'network.' there are four meanings of network that aid in explaining a hypertext.
"First, individual print works when transferred to hypertext take the form
of blocks, nodes, or lexias joined by a network of links and paths" (42).
Basically a text having a digital copy and a printed copy. "Second, any
gathering of lexias, whether assembled by the original author of the verbal
text or by someone gathering together texts created by multiple authors, also
takes the form of a network" (42). This definition correlates to the idea
of a web page. "Third, the term network refers to an electronic system
involving additional computers as well as cables or wire connections that permit
individual machines, workstations, and reading-and-writing-sites to share
information" (42). To put this into a realistic example, the idea of
multiple organizations in disperse geographical locations all speaking through
one network relates to different workstations allowing a share of information. In
regards to the fourth meaning of network, "the word refers to the entirety
of all of those terms in which there is no term and for which other terms stand
until something better comes along, or until one of them gathers fuller
meanings and fuller acceptance to itself" (43). In plain terms, to publish in the hyper
textual world that we live in we must gain access to 'the network.' Once
researching networks more in depth, I came across another YouTube video that
explained literature analysis. It was presented as a TED talks and thoroughly
explains the structure and components of a literal network. Watch the link
below.
The
final part of hypertextuality that Landow speaks about is cause or convergence,
influence or confluence. This part of the essay I found quite tricky in
relation to a hypertext. When Landow started to speak about Derrida he states,
"the form of the 'book' is now going through a period of general upheaval,
and while that form appears less natural, and its history less transparent,
than ever...the book form alone can no longer settle...the case of those
writing processes which, in practically questioning that form, must also
dismantle it"(47). This is when I stated the question-So does
hypertextuality take away from the original art form of a piece of writing? The
essay finally closes with a final correlation of the art of science paralleling
the art literature. So, in this way the explanation of a rhizome and a
hypertext make a full circle that leaves us with this-hypertextuality takes
many forms and further explains the unknown through many thought processes and
forms of writing.
-Anjelica MacGregor-
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