Hypertext fiction author Stuart Moulthrop discussed the criticisms and future of computerized creative writing last night in a lecture titled "The Internet and Other Interactive Fictions."
An associate professor at the School of Communications Design at the University of Baltimore, Moulthrop spoke to an audience of nearly 50 about the media, literature, hypertext fiction and the business of the Internet.
Hypertext is a new form of creative writing that uses computers as the medium for conveying stories and poems. Instead of following a set linear plot, hypertexts respond to reader input and change each time they are read.
Author of one of the more popular hypertext fictions, "Victory Garden" (an abridged version available on the World Wide Web at http:// www.eastgate.com/ VG/VGStart. html), Moulthrop conducted his lecture in 217 Dartmouth Hall, one of the College's "smart" classrooms, which features several technological teaching tools, such as a projector for computer screens.
Moulthrop employed the projector to show audience members both an on-line outline of his lecture and excerpts from his most recent hypertext fiction, "Hegirascope."
Found at http:// raven.ubalt. edu/staff/ moulthrop/ hypertexts/ HGS/, "Hegirascope" features multi-colored screens, each containing a few paragraphs of text.
As someone reads a screen, it will suddenly flash and change into another screen with new text. Meanwhile, readers may click on words on the screen to affect which new screens appear.
Moulthrop spent an hour discussing the direction of literature and addressing many of the criticisms that have been raised about hypertext fiction.
Throughout the lecture, not only did the projected screen follow Moulthrop's lecture, but also it would continually flash random little messages, such as "Jerry Lewis has a Web site" or "In the time it takes you to tie your shoes, 93 pages are added to the Web."
Often speaking tongue-in-cheek, Moulthrop lamented how hypertext writers are often the recipients of much criticism and thin paychecks.
He acknowledged hypertext may not adequately challenge literary norms, that a great deal of it may be embedded in "gimmicks," and that he harbors no suspicions that computer media may ever supersede print text.
"The first four letters of hypertext is 'hype,'" Moulthrop pointed out.
At the same time, Moulthrop defended hypertext as a viable addition to English literature because it is a new concept that raises important questions and issues.
Also, he said he looked forward to more technologically-advanced "multi-media" hypertexts that include more graphics and sounds.
Following his lecture, Moulthrop answered questions from audience members, a balanced mixture of students and professors.
Moulthrop said he is currently working on a new hypertext project, "The Color of Television."
