[Discussion] CFP: Material Electronic Text (3/15/04; MLA '04)

[sule tarakcioglu]

Material Electronic Text: MLA 2004

This MLA panel sponsored by the Association for Computers in the=20
Humanities seeks to offer papers devoted to a consideration of the=20
materiality of the electronic text, broadly understood.

Through the 1980s and 1990s, much of the work on hypertext trumpeted the
immateriality of the electronic text: it was freed from the constraints=20
of book form, limited library shelves, tight publishing budgets, and=20
geographical distance. The electronic text slipped the surly bonds of=20
earth.

Papers are invited that will re-consider the materiality of the=20
electronic text in various ways, a critical turn in the study of digital=20
textualities that N. Katherine Hayles recently called =91the new=20
materialism.' Possible topics include but are not limited to:

* electronic archives
* archiving electronics
* digital representation of textual artifacts
* textual representation of digital artifacts
* materialities specific to digital texts
* access to and preservation of electronic texts
* data formats and obsolescence

Discussion of particular projects is welcome, as are papers proposing a=20
more theorectical or historical focus. Please send 200 word abstracts=20
(in the body of an email) by 15 March 2004 to Aim=E9e Morrison at=20
aimee.morrison@ualberta.ca.


++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dr. Aim=E9e Morrison 4-14 Humanities Ctr.
Postdoctoral Fellow Dept. of English, U of A
Orlando Project (780) 492-0298

"Most of the thesis could have been done by an appropriately programmed=20
computer in a matter of seconds."
-- Northrop Frye, "Literary and Mechanical Models."