Literature in the Digital Era

Presumably, digitization has reconfigured our understanding and concept of literature, the materiality of its medium and the channels of its distribution. Electronic production and reception environments have created challenges to established ways of studying and analyzing not only digital texts but print media as well. In this class we will investigate theories of electronic literature and hypertext as well as literary texts that are -‘digital born,’ a first generation digital object created on a computer and (usually) meant to be read on a computer” (Hayles 2007). We will consider if and how the roles and functions of literary agents – readers, writers and critics – are reconfigured through the impact of digitization. The class will turn to experimental forms like hypertext fiction, digital poetry and interactive fiction as well as ‘remediated’ formats like e-books. We will look at works created on social online sites like twitter or on fan fiction archives like fanfiction.net, and reviews written by readers on Goodreads, as well as examine the dynamics of self-publishing. Additionally we will look at projects that examine and negotiate digital literature and electronic writing through print texts. The class will end with a student-organized conference. (If you want to be part of the organizational team, please sign up for the Independent Studies class). Englisch, Master LbS AmerF3 Registration – StudIP 01.09.2016-30.09.2016 / Size restriction – 30 / Further Information – bettina.soller@engsem.~ Universität Hannover WiSe 2016/17 Englisch, Bachelor Tech. Edu. (M. A.) Soller Bettina M A