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 rise of digital authoring and web authoring has transformed the field of manuscript studies, prompting a reevaluation of traditional approaches and the development of new methodologies to investigate native-digital manuscripts.

Key findings

The study identifies the need for new methodologies, such as digital "forensics" and "virtual desks", to investigate native-digital manuscripts, and outlines a theory of manuscript "transmediations".

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 include developing a theory of manuscript "transmediations" and identifying the requirements for a hypertext "genre" for digital manuscripts.

Methods

The study uses case studies and analyses of digital transitions to develop the theory of manuscript "transmediations".

Results

The study highlights key challenges and future directions for scholarly editions of digital manuscripts, and elaborates the requirements for a hypertext "genre" for digital manuscripts.

Conclusions

The study concludes that traditional approaches to manuscript studies are challenged by the rise of digital authoring and web authoring, and that new methodologies are needed to investigate native-digital manuscripts.

Limitations

The study acknowledges that the nature and relations of native-digital manuscripts are yet to be fully investigated.

Future work

The study suggests that future work should focus on developing new methodologies, such as digital "forensics" and "virtual desks", to investigate native-digital manuscripts.

Practical applications

The study has practical applications for the development of scholarly editions of digital manuscripts, and for the creation of a hypertext "genre" for digital manuscripts that supports reconciling the open-ended collaborative process of curation with the need for a coherent narrative.

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.