| This thesis draws upon established network theory in order to understand digital literature and net art through their creation, distribution, and operation on the network. Although the advent of the web is often considered the defining point of transformation in both genres, the thesis indicates that the network language at the foundation of these genres existed notably earlier than has previously been indicated---before the advent of the web. These two genres (digital literature and net art) are described as convergent forms, merging with each other around networked language---the author takes a digital media studies approach to engage with the investigation. The thesis identifies multiple instances of networked language in textually rich pre-web works of literature and art to indicate that this genre convergence precedes current assessments regarding network influenced creation, distribution, and operation of these works.;The thesis critically engages most closely with theorists Latour, Hardt, Negri, Castells, Foucault, Deleuze, Kittler, Galloway, Manovich, and Kirschenbaum to defend its assertions. |
