ATS3091 · Digital literatures

Overview

In this unit, you will explore 'born-digital' literary texts created specifically for digital platforms, spanning the 1980s to the present day. You will examine the theoretical underpinnings of digital literature in poststructuralist literary theory, as well as performing close readings of examples from major genres (including hypertext fiction, blogs, social-media narrative, remix fiction, locative narratives, and other print-digital hybrids). The unit emphasises the constantly evolving relationship between digital technologies and literary creators' experimentation with them. Additionally, you will also consider issues of longevity and canonicity for digital literatures given the rapid rate of obsolescence in digital platforms.

Areas of study: Literary studies

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. knowledge of poststructuralist, cyberculture and contemporary media theories influencing development of digital literatures;
2. familiarity with some of the major subgenres, texts and authors in the digital literature domain;
3. appreciation of the inter-relationship between evolving media technologies and digital literary genres from 1980s to the present;
4. ability to engage in debates between various 'generations' of digital literature practitioners and critics;
5. understanding of the challenges digital literature presents to traditional print-culture notions of textual fixity, longevity and canonicity, and implications of these for the future of literary studies broadly;
6. ability to situate digital literatures within changes in the broader contemporary book world, especially around digital technologies and eBooks;
7. skill in navigating digital literary texts on various media platforms.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.