Death and Transmediations: Manuscripts in the Age of Hypertext

Highlights

The consolidated approaches on manuscript studies involving the analysis of material artefacts are challenged

The mapping between digital and material artefacts outlines a theory of manuscript "transmediations" identifying where and how manuscripts cues are reflected in digital technologies

We elaborate the requirements of a hypertext "genre" for digital manuscripts that supports reconciling the open-ended collaborative process of curation with the need for a coherent narrative addressed to the broader public

Summary

Snapshot

The study explores the impact of digital authoring and hypertext on manuscript studies, proposing a theory of manuscript "transmediations" to understand the relationship between material and digital artefacts.

Key findings

The key findings of the study include the development of a theory of manuscript "transmediations" and the identification of parallels between material manuscripts and hypertext features.

The consolidated approaches on manuscript studies involving the analysis of material artefacts are challenged

The mapping between digital and material artefacts outlines a theory of manuscript "transmediations" identifying where and how manuscripts cues are reflected in digital technologies

Objectives

The objectives of the study are to investigate the nature and relations of native-digital manuscripts, and to develop a theory of manuscript "transmediations".

Methods

The methods used in the study include case studies and analyses of digital transitions, as well as a discussion of key challenges and future directions for scholarly editions of digital manuscripts.

Results

The results of the study include the development of a theory of manuscript "transmediations" and the identification of requirements for a hypertext "genre" for digital manuscripts.

Conclusions

The conclusions of the study highlight the need for new methodologies, such as digital "forensics" and "virtual desks", to investigate the nature and relations of native-digital manuscripts.

Limitations

The limitations of the study are not explicitly stated, but the study acknowledges that the nature and relations of native-digital manuscripts are yet to be fully investigated.

Future work

The future work suggested by the study includes the development of scholarly editions of digital manuscripts and the reconciliation of the open-ended collaborative process of curation with the need for a coherent narrative.

Practical applications

The practical applications of the study include the development of a hypertext "genre" for digital manuscripts that supports the needs of both curators and the broader public.

Abstract

Has Hypertext killed off both the form and value of manuscript? Digital authoring first and web authoring later have changed drastically the availability and type of traces that reflect both creative and editorial processes. In this view, the consolidated approaches on manuscript studies involving the analysis of material artefacts are challenged. While new methodologies such as digital "forensics" and "virtual desks" are emerging, the nature and relations of native-digital manuscripts are yet to be fully investigated. This contribution accounts digital artefacts within the field of manuscript studies, identifying parallels between material manuscripts and hypertext features in their value as documents. The mapping between digital and material artefacts outlines a theory of manuscript "transmediations" identifying where and how manuscripts cues are reflected in digital technologies. This theory is developed through case studies and analyses of digital transitions. In a discussion, we highlight key challenges and future directions for scholarly editions of digital manuscripts. Lastly, we elaborate the requirements of a hypertext "genre" for digital manuscripts that supports reconciling the open-ended collaborative process of curation with the need for a coherent narrative addressed to the broader public.