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Arguments
Arguments which exist on different intersecting planes
The construction of gender identity in linear and non-linear texts -
being and becoming.
Non-linear texts
Electronic texts have no separate existence
It is argued that electronic texts have no existence separate from the
reading since they only exist electronically in a nascent form. The texts
of hypertext fiction cannot easily be extracted from the programs within
which they are written and embedded. The links, which can made by the
reader are an essential part. New links, therefore new readings can be
made by different readers or the same reader at different times. The reader's
gender may influence this.
Reader as author
The reader navigates through the hypertext fiction within a hypertext
environment (HTML, Storyspace or other hypertext system) forming links
and pursuing paths which each make a unique journey. It is argued that
the reader thus becomes the author of non-linear texts. Each reading becomes
a unique text. In this process the reader also constructs gender.
Linear texts are constructed by the reader
Linear texts are constructed by the reader since many interpretations
are still possible, as is seen in the different versions of films based
on plays or novels. All texts are constructed by the reader just as the
director constructs the film or play. Works from the established literary
canon are still open to new interpretations.
Gender in hyperspace
Hypertext fiction has followed from the computer and web adventure games
tradition, which was largely male orientated but cyberspace has spawned
the 'digital drag' phenomena where game players and other participants
in cyberspace assume genders and other characteristics not consistent
with their physiology or off-line persona.
Gender in fiction and hyperfiction
Reactions to gender identity may be separate from the narrative which
produces them. It will be considered whether this is affected by the presence
or absence of meta-narrative and also how this interacts with critical
theories, e.g. Feminist approach. The final question is whether there
is even such a thing as gender identity.
The use of the first and second person in narrative
Hypertext fictions often make use of first or second person so that the
gender of narrator or characters is not declared. Second person narrative
allows the reader of either gender to associate with the central character,
to become the character, as a player becomes a character in a adventure
game.
Intertextuality
The nature of postmodern literature tends to intertextuality. The linking
nature of hypertext has been described as 'a mosaic of all possible texts
and discourses'. (14)
This argument will be applied to both linear and non-linear texts.
Narrative and meta-narrative and the concept of identity.
Does the text have an overarching meta-narrative which has a bearing on
gender construction?
Our destination is the same in the end, but our journey - part chosen,
part determined- is different for us all, and changes even as we live
and grow. (The Wasp Factory)
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