Difference between revisions of "Textual Closure (Formal)"
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[[Image:The_end.jpg|thumb|right|The semantic marker of textual closure in a film.]] | [[Image:The_end.jpg|thumb|right|The semantic marker of textual closure in a film.]] | ||
| − | + | Formal closure is the property of a text insofar as it is inaccessible to modification. Historically, the closed text arose in the early modern period within 18th and 19th century systems of literary printing in Europe (Hesse, 28). When printed and bound within the confines of the covers of the book, the text was largely sealed from change, a quality which elevated the author during the Romantic period to a status of renown, and canonized the novel as timeless. | |
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| + | Yet the widespread contemporary adoption of personal computers has recently shown textual closure to be a contingent historical phenomenon, tied to the regime of print. For the computer user, digital text becomes a fluid, accessible form of data, easily copied or modified. For better or worse, the textual effect is to dramatically lower the barrier to inscription, opening up discourse and overwriting the author. | ||
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| + | [[Image:Pride-prejudice-zombies.jpg|thumb|left|Digital textuality enables the creation of new, hybrid texts.]] | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
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Hesse, Carla. "Books in Time." From Nunberg, Geoffrey (ed) "The Future of the Book". University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles. 1996. Print. | Hesse, Carla. "Books in Time." From Nunberg, Geoffrey (ed) "The Future of the Book". University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles. 1996. Print. | ||
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Kittler, Friedrich. "Gramophone, Film, Typewriter". Stanford University Press: Stanford. 1999. Print. | Kittler, Friedrich. "Gramophone, Film, Typewriter". Stanford University Press: Stanford. 1999. Print. | ||
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Vismann,Cornelia. "Files: Law and Media Technology". Stanford University Press: Stanford. 2008. Print. | Vismann,Cornelia. "Files: Law and Media Technology". Stanford University Press: Stanford. 2008. Print. | ||
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[[Category:Dossier]] | [[Category:Dossier]] | ||
[[Category:Spring 2010]] | [[Category:Spring 2010]] | ||
[[Category:Writing]] | [[Category:Writing]] | ||
Revision as of 13:12, 26 April 2010
Formal closure is the property of a text insofar as it is inaccessible to modification. Historically, the closed text arose in the early modern period within 18th and 19th century systems of literary printing in Europe (Hesse, 28). When printed and bound within the confines of the covers of the book, the text was largely sealed from change, a quality which elevated the author during the Romantic period to a status of renown, and canonized the novel as timeless.
Yet the widespread contemporary adoption of personal computers has recently shown textual closure to be a contingent historical phenomenon, tied to the regime of print. For the computer user, digital text becomes a fluid, accessible form of data, easily copied or modified. For better or worse, the textual effect is to dramatically lower the barrier to inscription, opening up discourse and overwriting the author.
References
Genette, Gerard. "Paratexts: Thresholds of Interpretation". Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK. 1997.
Hesse, Carla. "Books in Time." From Nunberg, Geoffrey (ed) "The Future of the Book". University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles. 1996. Print.
Kittler, Friedrich. "Gramophone, Film, Typewriter". Stanford University Press: Stanford. 1999. Print.
Vismann,Cornelia. "Files: Law and Media Technology". Stanford University Press: Stanford. 2008. Print.
