Points of Praxis

My Blog Reflects on Visual Rhetorical Theory and Disability Rhetoric and their Connections to Classical and Contemporary Rhetorical Theory

As the holidays approach and the semester comes to an end, I've been curious as to the amount of work I've done on this blog.  First, I'm actually quite proud of it.  It may not be the most insightful or inspiring analysis of electronic literature, but considering that my understanding of new media, and subsequently electronic literature, was next to nothing--I remember Cheri telling me she was in "Telematic Texts" last semester and thinking "Huh?  That sounds so impossible"--I've come lightyears in just a few short months.  So, while this may not be the smartest blog on the block, it kicked my butt.

My second thought was regarding how much work when into this teeny, tiny blog.  Writing a semester blog seem easy?  Hardly.  I copied and pasted this bad-boy into Word and I'm at 9 pages single-spaced as we speak.  Not to mention the comments--to which I owe Cheri, Ron Burnett, and Peter Howard my life, or at least a "thank you" note.  But, beside the previously afore mentioned newfound knowledge in new media studies, I've learned something else in the process of writing this:  first, the importance of audience.  I understand why Dr. Grigar is so adamant that we engage in the discursive community and seek out electronic works.  Because, I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to write and publish something of value only to have it "lost" in the abyss of the internet.  And, second, the work and time that goes into electronic literature.  On our class blog, elit, the discussion lately has been on the professional, scholarly, and administrative negative responses to technology and "alternative" forms of communication--like online classes and new media. (The resistance to each seems similar to me.)  That somehow taking classes online are easier than those taken face-to-face and that those works published online are not as valuable or significant as those published on actual paper.  But, I've found out (through my limited experience) that both online classes and electronic literary works are just as time-consuming and thought-provoking as those considered more "traditional."

I remember Deena Larsen talking about the time it took to create her work "Spritual Comfort" and how she essentially locked herself away for three months to produce that electronic poem.  And, I remember being surprised by the time it took.  I suppose in a day-and-age when I can get a blog started in five minutes, three months seemed odd to me.  But, I understand now that since new media sources add to the literary experience by integrating sound, visuals,and hypertexts that all of those elements take time to create, integrate, and coordinate.

While I will be posting two or three more entries over the next few weeks as the semester comes to an end, I wanted to note that while this blog was a class project, I have learned a lot about new media.  And, while I may be new to this discourse community and type of literary/discursive analysis, I'm proud of the progress I've made through sheer determination and butt-busting.

Deena Larsen, "Spirtual Comfort," http://www.pifmagazine.com/vol32/hypertext/index.html

posted by: rgregory at 22:54 | link | comments (3) |

Comments:

#1  18 November 2005 - 00:03

 

I'm glad you decided to do this, Rochelle--my inspiration for the comp exam blog. So, if I pass, you get some of the credit. If I don't, well, we won't talk about that. :)

Don't cut yourself short, woman! My first semester, I wasn't anywhere near where you've gone in one semester. You definitely have worked your behind off--even tackling Hayles. I didn't get to her until the second semester.

--Cheri

Anonymous

#2  07 December 2005 - 20:20

 

MD Coverley gave a special talk at the NEH seminar Kate hosted. During the question and answer period she revealed that she had spent over $50,000 on the elit work, Califia, and yet made a paultry sum on it from the publisher. Everyone was stunned. The idea that seemed to emerge was that she should have been better compensated.

I remember thinking at the time that all writers, whether they produce their texts for print or electronic, should be better compensated than they are. That writing, the great ideas that emerge from the process of writing, is a precious commodity that should not only be valued for its political commentary, advertizing strength, or schlock content. That the writers of People magazine are actually paid for those articles when Coverley gives her away for free seems like a sad commentary on what is deemed valuable in our culture.

--Dene

Dene

#3  07 December 2005 - 21:07

 

Absolutely. I think your comments also speak to issues in composition pedagogy, as well--as I'm sure you're aware.

Does the material posted on BB belong to the university or the instructor? Again, value of the intellectual property of instructors...

An interesting antedote: At the PCA/ACA conference in Atlanta this year, we're encouraged to bring copies of our papers for our fellow presenters to buy. The money will go to funding graduate students trips to future conferences. Still, we're asked to give our research away to the conference (they're not publishing it) so that the conference can sell it. Seems like something is amiss here.

rgregory

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