Haylie's Week 3 Post

 After reading this chapter, I learned that hypertext has influenced many other forms of e-lit. Rettberg gives the example "though in some ways the core ideas and basic techniques of hypertext have migrated into genres such as installations, interactive 3D works in CAVEs, and apps for mobile devices" (Rettberg). Hypertext is a very important aspect of electronic literature because of the way it has guided new forms and genres. I find this interesting because in the chapter, Rettberg mentions how Landow makes the connection that hypertext is very similar to the concepts of contemporary literature and semiological theory. With hypertext being so influential, I find it a little funny how Landow says that it is an "embarrassingly literal embodiment of both concepts" (Landow) after Rettberg says that if hypertext was never developed, then e-lit would not have become a big field for academic research. 

I enjoyed "The Garden of Forking Paths" because of how freedom is shown through the endless possibilities in reality. I think it shows off hypertext in a great way by showing how the choices you make results in different endings and everything branches off of one another. 

For my bring it to the table, I chose to research "Hopscotch" by Julio Cortazar. I found that the reader can decide on different ways to read the 155 chapters in the novel, one of them being in any order the reader wants. I find this to be a very interesting concept because I have not read a novel where you could read it not in chronological order. But, reading it out of chronological order would give the alternate endings in which hypertext focuses on.