Hypertextuality
Encyclopedia
Hypertextuality is a postmodern theory
of the inter-connectedness of all literary works
and their interpretation
.
The prefix 'hyper' is derived from the Greek 'above, beyond or outside'. Hence hypertext
has come to describe a text which provides a network of links to other texts that are 'outside, beyond and above itself'.
According to Gerard Genette
in Palimpsestes, a book about hypertextuality, "hypotext" refers to the source of the text, as well as to previous editions or versions of it. Hypertext is related to paratext
, which includes information that accompanies the text itself (illustrations, preface or introduction).
Theory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
of the inter-connectedness of all literary works
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and their interpretation
Interpretation (logic)
An interpretation is an assignment of meaning to the symbols of a formal language. Many formal languages used in mathematics, logic, and theoretical computer science are defined in solely syntactic terms, and as such do not have any meaning until they are given some interpretation...
.
The prefix 'hyper' is derived from the Greek 'above, beyond or outside'. Hence hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
has come to describe a text which provides a network of links to other texts that are 'outside, beyond and above itself'.
According to Gerard Genette
Gérard Genette
Gérard Genette is a French literary theorist, associated in particular with the structuralist movement and such figures as Roland Barthes and Claude Lévi-Strauss, from whom he adapted the concept of bricolage.-Life:...
in Palimpsestes, a book about hypertextuality, "hypotext" refers to the source of the text, as well as to previous editions or versions of it. Hypertext is related to paratext
Paratext
Paratext is a concept in literary interpretation. The main text of published authors is often surrounded by other material supplied by editors, printers, and publishers, which is known as the paratext. These added elements form a frame for the main text, and can change the reception of a text or...
, which includes information that accompanies the text itself (illustrations, preface or introduction).