On Defining Electronic Literature Within the Realm of Digital Art

The paper explores caused by modern technologies changes in the way of writing, leading to transfer from paper-based to computer-mediated works, or a new form of literature – electronic literature. Created and performed on networked and programmable media, e-literature proceeded from imitation and transposition of print practices to a computer screen. Further authors began to incorporate into their works various sensory effects and combinations of different semiotic systems affordable for creative writing on computer. Elements of contemporary culture, such as digital arts, graphic design, computer games, films, animations, and other electronic visual and sound effects started to be included into works of e-literature, reflecting creative experiments with the net. As works of e-literature became hybrid by nature, composed of parts taken from diverse traditions and semiotic systems, the distinction of literary works from other forms of computer-mediated art was blurred. It resulted in the study of the phenomenon of intermediality in electronic literature. The very definition of electronic literature changed from “born-digital” literature to “the artistic engagement of digital media and language.” Due to the expansion of its borders, e-literature is currently viewed as a platform that offers various research perspectives, digital methods and creative forms. Based on the study of works of narrative hypertext fiction from the Electronic Literature Collection composed at Washington State University, the paper aims at drawing a demarcation line between literary works created on a new platform and other forms of computer-generated art by defining different functions intermediality serves in their composition.