Syllabus

leishmanDay 1:  Understanding Electronic Literature

What is electronic literature?  Who are its authors and what are works to explore?

An introduction to electronic literature, including terminology, traditions, and history; an exploration of its different genres and approaches, such as hypertext fiction, literary games, flash poetry, interactive fiction, mobile and geo-locative works––and representative authors.

Readings:

Lead Facilitator: Dene and Davin
9:30 a.m.-10:45
Introduction to the course, instructors, and participants
A general discussion about definitions, theories, and works

“Game, Game, Game and Again Game,” by Jason Nelson
“Zoology,” by Sasha West

10:45-11:00 a.m. Break

Lead Facilitator: Davin
11:00-12 Noon p.m.
Kinetic poetry and prose, database narratives, & net prov:
“First Screening,” by bpNichol
“Typoemas” and “Anipoemas,” by Ana Maria Uribe
“Stir Fry Texts,” by Jim Andrews
“Sound Poems,” by Jorg Piringer
“Muds,” by Jhave
“J. B. Wock,” by Eugenio Tisselli
“Grafik Dynamo,” by Kate Armstrong and James Tippett
“Camel Tail,” by Sonny Rae Tempest

Lead Facilitator: Dene
1:30 p.m.-2:15 p.m.
Mobile E-Lit
P.O.E.M.M., by Jason Edward Lewis
“For All Seasons,” by Andreas Muller
“Vniverse,” by Stephanie Strickland and Ian Hatcher
“Pry,” by Danny Cannizzaro and Samantha Gorman
“Upgrade Soul,” by Erik Loyer
“Urban Rhythms,” by Jody Zellen

Lead Facilitator: Davin
2:30-3:15 p.m.
Literary Games and Gameful Works:
“Galatea,” by Emily Short
“Arteroids,” by Jim Andrews
“The Possession of Christian Shaw,” by Donna Leishman
“New Word Order,” by Sandy Baldwin
“Nothing You’ve Done Deserves Such Praise,” Jason Nelson
“Ice-Bound,” by Aaron Reed and Jacob Garbe
“Speidi Show,” by Mark Marino and Rob Wittig

Lead Facilitator: Dene
3:15 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Pathfinders: John McDaid, Judy Malloy, Shelley Jackson, Bill Bly, and Stuart Moulthrop;
Dene will show the Pathfinders and talk about the project.

 

pullingerDay 2:  Theories and Critical Practices of Electronic Literature

What are the theories and critical practices involving the scholarship of electronic literature?

An in-depth look at theories and critical practices, such as media-specific analysis, platform studies, critical code study, and close reading; group and individual critiques of works of electronic literature; an introduction to publishing opportunities for scholarship of electronic literature; a discussion of issues, such as obsolescence and preservation, performativity, and multimediality; boundaries; and embodiment.

Readings:

Lead Facilitator: Davin
9:00 a.m.-noon
Theories of Computational Literature
Download slides
Davin’s supplemental links :

Example of Critical Writing

12 noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch

Here is the URL to the Google Doc to use for putting your critical works from today

Lead Facilitator: Davin Heckman
3:30 p.m.-4 p.m.
CELL: Taxonomy 


images-2Day 3:  Curating Electronic Literature

How does one go about curating an exhibit or creating an archive of electronic literature?

A hands-on workshop in conceptualizing, selecting, and organizing an exhibit and archive of electronic literature; an introduction to theories of curation involving spatial, audience, aesthetic, and art-object considerations; a discussion of resources and strategies for mounting an exhibit or developing a sustainable archive; a discussion of collateral materials for exhibits like websites, catalogs, signage, handouts, and announcement cards.

Readings:

Databases, Collections, Organizations and Journals:

Lead Facilitator: Dene
9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Slide Show:  What is curating?  Download Slide Show here:  Key  PPT
Resources:

Lead Facilitators: Davin
10:30 a.m.-12 Noon
Exploration of exhibits, anthologies, collections

Lead Facilitator: Dene
1:30 p.m.-4 p.m.
Slide Show:  What is unique about curating electronic literature? Slide Show:  Key  PPT
Development of an exhibit (aimed to be prepared as an online archive following the course).  Here are the two handouts for this section of the day:  Curating  Gallery Plan


screenDay 4:  Creating Electronic Literature

How does one make electronic literature?

A hands-on workshop on creating electronic literature, focusing on the underlying structure of a work, such as platform and code, as well as the digital objects that contribute to the content of a work; an introduction to multimodal production and time-based media; a general overview of tools and methods.

Readings:

Lead Facilitators: Jim, Dene, and Davin
9:00 a.m.-9:10 a.m. Introduction to Jim Andrews and his work
9:10 a.m.-9:40 a.m. “How to Conceptualize a Project”
A discussion about how to develop your ideas for a work of e-lit, limit scope, figure out the affordances of the tools you have on hand, think about audience and message.
9:40 a.m.-10:20 a.m. Jim shows “Stir Fry Texts;” Dene shows hypertext texts; Davin shows social media literature
10:20 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m.-11:oo a.m. Participants explore/read e-lit examples and conceptualize the project they wish to pursue.
11:00 a.m.-11:20 a.m. Jim shows how Stir Fry texts are made.
11:20 a.m.-11:40 noon Dene shows how hypertexts texts are made.
11:40-12 noon Davin shows how texts are made with social media.

12 noon-1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Participants work on e-lit poetry or narratives.
3:30 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. Students show works, discussion, and wrap up.

****Tonight is the E-Lit Reading at Felicita’s on the UVic Campus, 7:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m.  This event is free and all participants are encouraged to read and attend.


stringsDay 5:  Teaching Electronic Literature

What methodologies can be used to teach electronic literature in the classroom?

An examination of syllabi used for teaching electronic literature; an introduction to books and articles appropriate for various levels of classroom instruction; suggestions for activities to engage students in a meaningful exploration of electronic literature.

Readings:

Lead Facilitators: Davin, Sandy, and Dene

9:00 a.m.-9:40 a.m. Housekeeping, etc.
9:40 a.m.-10:00 a.m.: Preparing a syllabi
10:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.: Break
10:15a.m.-11:05 a.m.: Preparing resources
11:05a.m.-11:45 a.m.: Workshops:  Participants make syllabi
11:45 a.m.-12 noon:  The last 15 minutes is devoted to giving out the Certificates.