Electronic Literature

   In Katherine Hayles, "Electronic Literature: What is it?", she explains the concept of electronic literature. One of the main points that Hayles makes is that E-lit is beneficial because it can be accessed via a computer, rather than your traditional book. Hayles also provides the relationship with E-lit and technology, claiming that one evolves in time with the other. "Just as the history of print literature is deeply bound up with the evolution of book technology as it built on wave after wave of technical innovations, so the history of electronic literature is entwined with the evolution of digital computers as they shrank from the room-sized IBM 1401 machine on which I first learned to program (sporting all of 4K memory) to the networked machine on my desktop" (Retterberg, 3). This may prove to have advantages in the aspect of accessibility. However, this is all under the assumption one has access to a computer or network. As a newly birthed concept, this concept may prove to be more superficial and extensive. 

   In reference to the genres of E-lit, I find it interesting that many genres progress in detail when utilizing the full capabilities of the web. Hayle's states how she labels these works of medio in their earlier, less-developed days as "first generational", and how more evolves works of media as "second generation". This is interesting when thinking about the concept of electronic literature growing and progressing. By becoming more technologically advanced, E-lit can prove to be more resourceful and useful.

                                                                                                          Ryan Donahue