Network Change, The Media And Literature

This thesis makes a systematic study of network as a newly arising literary medium by applying multiple-disciplinary knowledge about literature, culturology, communication and network technology. Through a elaborate analysis of the inner relationship between network medium and literary innovation, it aims to reveal the important role network medium has played in such innovation with an attempt to present an all-sided view of network medium and thus to help to deepen the study of it.The thesis falls into five parts:In the introductory part, the topic in question will be put forward and the writer's standpoint will be made clear.Part one is a sorting-out of the definitions of medium and network medium, and a review of its history of development and an overview of its present status quo. In nature, medium is a sort of extension of man himself actualized by means of science and technology. Varied media produced by the more or the less knowledge of man about science and technology in different phases of social development has made various man's sensory organs out of proportion. As a comprehensive super-medium, however, network, since it can activates all sensory organs with the help of digital and multi-media technology, has made a preliminary change to such out-of-proportion phenomenon. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a research into network medium.Part two will probe into the inner relationship between network medium and literary innovation.The emergence of network technology has a profound effect on the development and innovation of literature. In this part, their relationship will be studied in terms of the characteristics of network medium. Its multimedia trait gives birth to multimedia literature, which substantially alters the proportion of sensory organs and the ways of literary expression. Its digital trait has called for words being keyboarded, which deconstructs traditional way of writing, thus causing a subtle change both in the writer's psychology and literary language. Its openness produces literary works in a more open state. Interactive text and hypertext strengthen the reader's interaction, deconstructs the literary meaning and classic works. Its multi-dimension transfers the literary thinking pattern from linear vertical to radiating horizontal. Its interactivity triggers off a revolution in reading and criticizing pattern the result of which is thattraditional reading and criticizing has been on the decline. As a network and decentralized, such medium changes the one-way communication to the two-way process.Part three is the further reflections beyond network medium.The rapid development has resulted in three types of paradox. The first is paradox of globalization. Network medium is both international and national with a distinct Americanisation. To be internationalized means to be Americanized inevitably. The second is the paradox of informationalization. Network's large capacity means an easy access to enormous amount of information. On the other hand, overflowed information will cause pollution. To select out information, it's unavoidable to hurt the freedom and decentralization. The last is the paradox of commercialization. Although network literature has claiming credit for being non-utilitarian, the boom of such literature is actually the result of commercialization and capital operation. To break away with its commercial ties, it will lose the financial support; to resume the ties, it will be tampered.Conclusion: a prospect on the future network literature.The rapid and thriving development of network medium will ensure a bright future for network literature. The future literature pattern is certainly the one with one form as the leading role while many other forms coexisting. Literature will be further developed to add delight and ease to people's reading.