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Dazed and Confused and Triumphant.pdf (6.77 MB)

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"Dazed and Confused and Triumphant": An Exploration of Ergodic Literature

Gaj, Natasha E
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1620689542646212

Abstract Details

2021, BA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology.
"Dazed and Confused and Triumphant" is often the experience of both readers and writers of ergodic literature, whose struggle to understand it becomes a meaningful accomplishment after they do. Ergodic literature, as defined by its founder Espen Aarseth in his book 'Cybertext: Perspectives on Ergodic Literature', is literature in which "nontrivial effort is required to allow the reader to traverse the text". "Nontrivial effort" encompasses anything beyond reading a text from front to back, such as nonlinearity, space subversion, and multiple endings to choose from. In this thesis, I use the syllabus of a Fall 2012 NEOMFA Craft & Theory course to design the hypothetical 16 week class "Dazed and Confused and Triumphant" as a way to teach myself ergodic literature and grow as an experimental writer. The syllabus requires students to read and experience a comprehensive list of ergodic literature all throughout time (ex: the 'I Ching', the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' series, and the video game 'Undertale'), write weekly essays analyzing ergodic techniques in these readings, and create original ergodic literature based on what they've learned. All of these assignments and more are completed and included in this thesis. The thesis itself is arguably ergodic in its creation, format, and puzzle for its readers to solve.
Lauren Vachon, MFA (Advisor)
Carol Robinson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Molly Merryman, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Suzy D'Enbeau, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
150 p.
Curriculum Development; Fine Arts; Language Arts; Literature; Web Studies
ergodic literature; postmodernism; experimentalism; experimental literature; postmodern literature; Espen Aarseth; hypertext; cybertext; literary analysis; creative writing; Master of Fine Arts; NEOMFA; puzzles; video games; interactivity; subversion

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gaj, N. E. (2021). "Dazed and Confused and Triumphant": An Exploration of Ergodic Literature [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1620689542646212

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gaj, Natasha. "Dazed and Confused and Triumphant": An Exploration of Ergodic Literature. 2021. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1620689542646212.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gaj, Natasha. ""Dazed and Confused and Triumphant": An Exploration of Ergodic Literature." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1620689542646212

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ksuhonors1620689542646212
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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University Honors College and OhioLINK.