Mick says, "Back to the Hacker Ethic ... :-)"
Mick asks, "Mark, you were starting to suggest that the development of literature would more or less be left to the idle rich?"
bernstein says, "No ... I was pointing out that if writing is removed entirely from the realm of economics -- if writing is free -- then literature is necessarily the province of a privileged elite"
Mick asks, "But doesn't that lead to the conclusion that economic impact is a major impetus for writing?"
Sandye say, "but to some extent, the disk hypertexts are for the elite: one must have a computer, the right software, the text itself, the time to learn the computer, the software, etc. etc."
Mick says, "I know economic impact is the major impetus for *publishing* ... but for writing ... that may be different."
bernstein says, "It's not a major impetus for a great many writers; lots of people write because they have no choice. But most writers need an income from something"
Mick [to Sandye]: that's true of the web, too.
Sandye nods
bernstein asks, "Sandye: was Dickens writing for the elite?"
Mick [to bernstein]: careful, she's a Victorianist! ;-)
Sandye says, "no ... but the newspapers were passed around and many could read from one"
bernstein says, "That's true -- and much of Dickens was published in serial form so that readers with little capital could invest gradually."
Mick says, "And by the same token, though Mark won't want to hear this, I bet most people I know who own "Afternoon" own a bootlegged copy."
Sandye say, "maybe I'm wrong, but hypertexts tend to focus on the individual as reader, not at the group ..."
Mick asks, "That's "readimg someone else's copy of the newspaper," right?"
bernstein says, "Lots of libraries have circulating copies of hypertexts -- copies you can read (and return) without theft."
Sandye nods Mick
bernstein says, "People lend hypertexts to friends all the time. That's fine, too"
Mick says, "That makes good sense."
bernstein says, "Dickens isn't really conducive to group reading either -- not as conducive as texts really designed for the purpose."
bernstein says, "Some very interesting things have come out of group readings of hypertexts. Randy Trigg has made some wonderful suggestions in this area,"
Mick says, "But hypertext isn't really conducive to "group reading" in the Victorian era sense either -- more group "writing" or to use Landow's ugly kludge of a word, "wreading.""
bernstein says, "exploring how reading with another person can help people explore their reactions and decisions"
Mick asks, "Trigg -- he wrote the first hypertext dissertation in the USA, didn't he?"
bernstein says, "I believe Trigg's was the first dissertation on hypertext anywhere. It's possible an antecedent has been overlooked."
Sandye nods Mick ... we keep having to return to audience.  Where are the group readings of hypertext taking place?
bernstein says, "Formal readings I sometimes hear about -- things like Kate Hayle's recent reading at the Guggenheim.  But others are informal, and I hear about them only in conference corridors.  Formal readings and installations can be found in our Hypertext Calendar and in good arts publications -- ArtsWire, Intelligent Agent, Trace."
Mick oopses ... it's 8:53 and I have a date with a needle fulla insulin ... gotta run.  Mark, this has been a pleasure.
bernstein says, "Kate Hayles at the Guggenheim.  But others are informal, and I hear about them"
Sandye nods Mick ok
bernstein says, "only in conference corridors"
bernstein exclaims, "OK -- thanks!"
bernstein waves
Sandye waves to bernstein...
Mick bows and steps outamoo