Bolter Chapter 3?

For each chapter you need these 3 parts in the blog post:

1.short summary...content and layout...strengths and weaknesses representing meaning and info

2. presenter's main points from bolter and other materials. what's the argument/point?

3. six questions

Then go to four blogs and answer one of their questions each.



This group had a very text oriented presentation with only some visual aides to the moving text in the prezi. They made sure to give their opinion also which I think made the presentation stronger. They talked about unitary symbols (letters or symbols) and how they relate to each other. They made the point that you can think about a single topic and get it to be universally understood through symbols so that everyone can relate to that topic.

Some of their main points were that topics exist in a space that is a visual surface but also a data structure of a computer and how that originated from the word topos which means "method of thought". Connecting existent texts like journals and books is used to connect the subject you're focussing on to your topic. They talked about the difference of word processors and printed text. Nothing is permanent in a word processor and it is convenient, faster, efficient, and fluid.

Hypertext and the remediation of print was touched upon but focussed on different paths of meaning for the author and for the reader. One of their arguments was that online text is overwhelming. Hypertext narrows down a path that you take to get information. Bolter's concern is that there is too much information that people won't be able to learn or absorb it. Also he is concerned that we won't be able to separate true and false data. -Remediation of text redefines cultural values and can represent homage and rivalry.




1. Why are topics less successful in print form?
2. Does the impermanence of digital writing create infinite limits to that writing, letting it change at any time?
3. Why do hypertext links create more efficient paths than an adventure book for example?
4. Is it not possible for printed texts to create universally understood symbols to explore topics?
5. If online text is overwhelming, doesn't hypertext create even more chaos because it is offering even more links than you already had?
6. Do you think people who participated in Week Without the Web here at Hofstra had a better feeling of how much digital text connects our society?