Writing Space: Computers, Hypertext, and the Remediation of Print

by Jay David Bolter

This second edition of Jay David Bolter's classic text expands on the objectives of the original volume, illustrating the relationship of print to new media, and examining how hypertext and other forms of electronic writing refashion or "remediate" the forms and genres of print. Reflecting the dynamic changes in electronic technology since the first edition, this revision incorporates the Web and other current standards of electronic writing. As a text for students in composition, new technologies, information studies, and related areas, this volume provides a unique examination of the computer as a technology for reading and writing.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

246 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1990

About the author

Jay David Bolter is Wesley Chair of New Media and Codirector of the Augmented Media Lab at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is the author of Remediation: Understanding New Media (with Richard Grusin), Windows and Mirrors: Interaction Design, Digital Art and the Myth of Transparency (with Diane Gromala), both published by the MIT Press, and other books.

Reviews

[DWRL Library]

As a "good read," this is a fascinating book, exploring the history of writing technology from chiseling in stone to papyrus scroll to the computer. Bolter looks at how changes in technology challenge more traditional forms of engaging material -- the changes necessitated by the medium into arranging verbal ideas in visual spaces.

In exploring how the computer has redefined the writing space, Bolter examines ways in which the internet has privileged the visual over the verbal, and the interactive over the static.

For the classroom, this book makes a good argument for teaching writing in less traditional ways. Bolter presents good reasons why the writing process will never be the same. The writing space has been redefined, and web-based writing should perhaps be a part of the writing curriculum.

For the first-year teacher, this book may offer insight into your more visually-oriented students, and good arguments for incorporating computer mediated writing in the classroom.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread to teach, and it's interesting to revisit the hypertext history now.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read with fascination Bolter's descriptions of the history of writing and the advent of computer writing and its implications for the future. There is no question that writers and critics will have to utilize, adapt to, and comment on computer technologies and their possibilities and limitations.

Bolter believes that hypertext and its fracturing, network affect on texts will seriously alter the way people write and perceive. He sees a world in which texts will circulate and be added to and get set up in such a way that the reader will have a free hand in their organization. I have to say that I am a little skeptical about this. It seems to me that the public will still want to read things that make clear, identifiable points, thus providing them with useful information, opinions, and coherent aesthetic experiences. Hypertext will be a part of the future, but its creators will not be able to go nuts and create huge, sprawling webs of information that will take a lot of effort to make sense out of. Clear, unaltered text will still be in demand. Writers, scientists, and critics will still want to retain a fair amount of control over the texts that they work so hard to create, and not simply throw them out there to be rearranged by anybody. For the hypertext aesthetic to really take hold, it will have to offer some practically useful methods of organizing information - like Wikipedia does, for example.

[Sabine · Rating 2 out of 5]

First I have to admit, I haven't read the whole book. But that was mostly due to what I have to say next and why I gave a 2-start rating!

This book might have been fantastic in 2001! But it's not anymore. I found it absolutely frustrating how outdated it was (why then, you might ask yourself, did I read it in the first place? well I've read books from the 80s (McLuhan to throw a name in there) that were brilliant and still up-to-date! This however, not so much.) Also the overuse of 'refashioned' and 'remediated' didn't impress me too much. I also had the feeling he kept repeating himself, stating the same opinion over and over again.

So I'm slightly disappointed and I do not recommend this book as I think it isn't up-to-date anymore.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bolter brings forward many great ideas in this book and raises some potentially very interesting discussions. Occasionally it is difficult to understand the points he is making and what side of the fence Bolter is on. All in all a good book.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat dull and seemingly dated, especially with its large sections dedicated to hypertext (which were to be expected given the title, but dry nonetheless).

Personally, not very useful for my masters paper either.

[Celeste · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some out of date info and biased comments make this less helpful than it could have been