Ergodic Literature & Cybertext

Ergodic Literature & CybeErgodic Literature & Cybertext rtext

Cybertext Vs hypertextCybertext Vs hypertext

CybertextCybertext

A neologism derived from A neologism derived from

Norbert Wiener’s book Norbert Wiener’s book

Cybernetics: Control and Communication Cybernetics: Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machinein the Animal and the Machine (1948).(1948).

It has thus created a new discipline called It has thus created a new discipline called “Cybernetics.”“Cybernetics.”

CybertextCybertext

Wiener’s interest is Wiener’s interest is not justnot just in the in the development of digital computers.development of digital computers.

He is interested in He is interested in

both both organicorganic and and inorganic systemsinorganic systems, ,

i.e. any system that contains an i.e. any system that contains an information information feedback loopfeedback loop..

Cybertext: WienerCybertext: Wiener

The concept of cybertext The concept of cybertext does not limit itselfdoes not limit itself to the study of computer-driven textuality.to the study of computer-driven textuality.

It focuses on It focuses on the the mechanical organizationmechanical organization o o

f the text.f the text.


To focus on the To focus on the mechanical organizationmechanical organization of the text…of the text…

What does that imply?What does that imply?

*attention on medium-specific aspects of *attention on medium-specific aspects of literary exchangeliterary exchange

*attention on the consumer/user/reader of *attention on the consumer/user/reader of the text the text


*attention on medium-specific aspects of literary exchange*attention on medium-specific aspects of literary exchange

Critical examination of existing normsCritical examination of existing norms

ExperimentationExperimentation

*attention on the consumer/user/reader of the text*attention on the consumer/user/reader of the text

Consumer/user/reader Consumer/user/reader re-figuredre-figured as as authorauthor..

Cybertext Cybertext ergodic literature ergodic literature

Ergodic features:Ergodic features:

[origin: Greek words “ergon” and “hodos”][origin: Greek words “ergon” and “hodos”]

““work” and “path”work” and “path”

The effort to The effort to traverse the texttraverse the text ( (walwalk through the workk through the work) is of great i) is of great importancemportance

““The user will have effectuated a semiotic sequence, and this selective The user will have effectuated a semiotic sequence, and this selective movement is a work of physical construction that the various concepmovement is a work of physical construction that the various concep

ts of `reading’ do not account for.”ts of `reading’ do not account for.”


Ergodic features:Ergodic features:

““Non-linear” (text)Non-linear” (text)(too misleading)(too misleading)

““without either beginning or end”without either beginning or end”““an endless labyrinthine plateau”an endless labyrinthine plateau”


Labyrinth = forking paths?Labyrinth = forking paths?

Penelope Reed Doob:Penelope Reed Doob:(TWO kinds of labyrinthine structure)(TWO kinds of labyrinthine structure)

**Unicursal:Unicursal: one path, winding and turning towards a centreone path, winding and turning towards a centre

*Multicursal:*Multicursal: the maze wanderer faces a series of critical choicethe maze wanderer faces a series of critical choice

ss



Umberto Eco: (THREE kinds of labyrinth)Umberto Eco: (THREE kinds of labyrinth)

**TheThe Linear:Linear: (= unicursal)(= unicursal)

*The Maze:*The Maze: (= multicursal)(= multicursal)

**The Net:The Net:““Every point can be connected with every other point.”Every point can be connected with every other point.”



““Labyrinth without exits”?Labyrinth without exits”?

Aarseth’s response:Aarseth’s response:

““A labyrinth without exit is a labyrinth wiA labyrinth without exit is a labyrinth without entrance; in other words, not a lthout entrance; in other words, not a labyrinth at all.”abyrinth at all.”


LabyrinthLabyrinth is is not just not just a metaphor. a metaphor.

Labyrinth Labyrinth points to concrete points to concrete structures.structures.


Examples of ergodic literature:Examples of ergodic literature:

I ChingI Ching, or the , or the Book of ChangesBook of Changes– – Chinese text of oracular wisdom (Western Zhou dynasty, Chinese text of oracular wisdom (Western Zhou dynasty,

1122-770 BC)1122-770 BC)-- made up of 64 symbols (hexagrams) which are the binar-- made up of 64 symbols (hexagrams) which are the binar

y combinations of six whole or broken (“changing”) lines y combinations of six whole or broken (“changing”) lines (64 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2)(64 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2)

-- -- manipulated by three coins or forty-nine yarrow stalks acmanipulated by three coins or forty-nine yarrow stalks according to randomizing principlecording to randomizing principle

-- -- two hexagrams are combined, producing one out of 4,09two hexagrams are combined, producing one out of 4,096 possible texts6 possible texts

Examples of Ergodic LiteratureExamples of Ergodic Literature

Guillaume Apollinaire’sGuillaume Apollinaire’s “calligrammes” “calligrammes” (191(1917-8)7-8)

Raymond Queneau’sRaymond Queneau’s “Cent Mille Milliards de “Cent Mille Milliards de PoPoèèmes” (a hundred thousand billion poemes” (a hundred thousand billion poems) ms) (1961)(1961)

B.S. Johnson’s B.S. Johnson’s The UnfortunatesThe Unfortunates (1969) (1969)Milorad Pavic’s Milorad Pavic’s Landscape Painted with TeaLandscape Painted with Tea

(1990)(1990)

What is Cybertext?What is Cybertext?

Cybertext is NOT a “new,” “revolutionary” forCybertext is NOT a “new,” “revolutionary” form of text, with capabilities only made possim of text, with capabilities only made possible through the invention of the digital comble through the invention of the digital com

puter.puter.

Cybertext is NOT a radical break with old-faCybertext is NOT a radical break with old-fashioned textuality.shioned textuality.

What is Cybertext?What is Cybertext?

Cybertext is a Cybertext is a perspectiveperspective on all on all forms of textuality.forms of textuality.

What is Cybertext?What is Cybertext?-- a comparative view-- a comparative view

Two Kinds of Two Kinds of

Interactivity:Interactivity:

Weaker definition: HYPERTEXT / staticWeaker definition: HYPERTEXT / static

Superior definition: CYBERTEXT / dynamicSuperior definition: CYBERTEXT / dynamic

HypertextHypertext

Participation, play, or even use:Participation, play, or even use:

BBoth the oth the content content and the and the permutationspermutations potentially open to the reader potentially open to the readerss are are fixedfixed..

Most existing interactive narratives are hypertextMost existing interactive narratives are hypertexts –s –

They are in the form of a journey with something to acquire, a task They are in the form of a journey with something to acquire, a task to accomplish, a destination to reach to accomplish, a destination to reach etcetc. Most existing interactive . Most existing interactive narratives are hypertexts. They are in the form of a journey with narratives are hypertexts. They are in the form of a journey with something to acquire, a task to accomplish, a reward to grab, a something to acquire, a task to accomplish, a reward to grab, a destination to reach and so on. Or there is simply something to look destination to reach and so on. Or there is simply something to look at. Or there are a few story lines to follow depending on where one at. Or there are a few story lines to follow depending on where one randomly branches off. Or there are a few story lines to follow randomly branches off. Or there are a few story lines to follow depending on where one randomly branches off. depending on where one randomly branches off.

HypertextHypertext

In most cases, the reader merely follows In most cases, the reader merely follows links already constructed by the author, links already constructed by the author, realizing several of the author’s scripted realizing several of the author’s scripted

permutations of the narrative or prescribed permutations of the narrative or prescribed resolution. resolution.

Hypertext Vs CybertextHypertext Vs Cybertext

Although the experience of reading a hypertext maAlthough the experience of reading a hypertext may feel dynamic and one has the impression that ty feel dynamic and one has the impression that the number of iterations is inexhaustible, the numhe number of iterations is inexhaustible, the number of narrative versions is in actually fixed in theber of narrative versions is in actually fixed in theory.ory.

In the case of cybertext, a machine to generate extIn the case of cybertext, a machine to generate extended possibilities of expression, “the actual conended possibilities of expression, “the actual content of the text may be determined by a script thtent of the text may be determined by a script that enables the computer to evolve its own storieat enables the computer to evolve its own stories” according to parameters written into the applics” according to parameters written into the application.ation.

CybertextCybertext

Algorithmic principlesAlgorithmic principles

RandomnessRandomness

PermutationPermutation

Self-organizationSelf-organization

EmergenceEmergence

CybertextCybertext

ExamplesExamples

Robert Massin, “One Hundred Million Poems” [kinetic typogRobert Massin, “One Hundred Million Poems” [kinetic typography] [expressive typography]raphy] [expressive typography]http://www.uncontrol.com/_massin/massin_small.htmlhttp://www.uncontrol.com/_massin/massin_small.html

““Emotion Fractal”: a recursive space filling algorithm using Emotion Fractal”: a recursive space filling algorithm using English words describing the human conditionEnglish words describing the human conditionhttp://levitated.net/daily/levEmotionFractal.htmlhttp://levitated.net/daily/levEmotionFractal.html

http://yugop.com/ver3/stuff/25/index.htmlhttp://yugop.com/ver3/stuff/25/index.html

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Ergodic Literature & Cybertext