Essentially, the article has to do with the problems and potentialities of
creating hypertext clusters that center around a specific literary work. The
cluster consists of every version of the work in question, presented in
parallel with the others, and assisted by a separate commentary produced by
editors. This idea is an expansion of the basic hypertext apparatus that
consists of indexes and notes in many scholarly presentation of major works in
printed text.
Hypertext could assist this type of production in four categories.
1)Selection of versions of a work from a list of many based on some criteria.
2)Comparison of works with separate commentary. Lavagnino asserts that
comparing TparallelU works implies an editing apparatus. 3)Construction of
new editorials to be added on--the expansion of criticism. 4)Integration of
uninterrupted reading and extensive editorial commenting--to
new sources, etc.
If there is an issue in this article, it revolves around the presence of the
editor in the work. Lavagnino states that hypertext tends toward reading as an
involving, uninterrupted process, and not a mere data collection. This view
opposes Vannevar BushUs `mechanical aid to scholarly laborU which would focus
on Tmoving from one text to another in an associative manner.` The editorial
apparatus is seen as interrupting the reading process, or even prejudicing the
readerUs experience of the text. And yet, and yet.
QUESTION:
In his essay, Lavagnino presents many ideas that would address the problems of
interaction between the many versions of a text and the commentary associated
with it. His mission: To promote a wider interest in the scholarly
understanding of text, using the resources of computer hypertext (as he
describes in the article).
What do you think of the world that Lavagnino wants to `help the neophytes` to
see? How does literature change with the presentation of a more seamless (for
a definition of Seamless see Ulmer`s `Grammatology Hypermedia` of a few weeks
back) interaction with the entirety of a text, a complete compendium of its
versions, and analytical tools based upon it? (including links to related
texts at the fringes of the cluster.
Perhaps address the issue of how hypertext can keep elements of this kind of
presentation more separate and yet integrate them more directly
or `transparently.`
See you soon,
Chesney Floyd