Towards a Global Electronic Literature

CollectionLeonardo Flores, PhD

Professor of English @ UPR: MayagüezTreasurer @ Electronic Literature Organization

Twitter: @leonardo_UPRM

The Electronic Literature Collection, Vol. 3

http://collection.eliterature.org/3

Questions raised by ELC3

• What is the mission of the Electronic Literature Collections, in general, and specifically Vol. 3?

• How far can the ELO’s network reach when making a call for the Electronic Literature Collection?

• Are there universal standards to assess the quality and/or importance of the submissions?

• How do we strike a balance between inclusiveness and standards in our selection?

MissionWhat is the mission of the ELC3?

• Assemble valuable works and resources for its audience.

• Snapshot of the field:• platforms• internationalization• historically important

works

• emergent genres

ReachHow far can the ELO’s network reach when making a call for the Electronic Literature Collection?• Facebook Group• E-mail, mailing lists• International Consultants• Communities

Result: 500+ submissions

StandardsAre there universal

standards to assess the quality and/or importance of the submissions?

• Quality standards vary by community.

• ELO Community:• Engagement with

media• Innovation• Significance

SelectionHow do we strike a balance

between inclusiveness and standards in our selection?

1. Initial quality assessment

2. Prioritize new voices

3. Revisit quality works from underrepresented:• countries• languages• platforms

The ELC3 at a glance• Total Number of Works:

114

• Main: 73

• Taroko Remixes: 16

• Renderings: 14

• Bots: 11

• Countries Represented: 26

• Languages: 13

The Electronic Literature Collection, Vol. 3

http://collection.eliterature.org/3

Special Collections• Document project, genres,

phenomena.

• They’re best appreciated collectively.

ELC3 Author Distribution

ELC3 Author Distribution

Language Distribution

Electronic Literature Collection, Vol. 1 (2006)

Multilingual or Non-English: 7 (11%)Authors living outside North America: 16

Electronic Literature Collection, Vol. 2 (2011)

Works not in English: 14 (23%)

Electronic Literature Collection, Vol. 3 (2016)

Works not in English: 42 (37%)Authors living outside the US: 77 (58%)

Future ELCs• More e-lit created as new generations become

increasingly “digitally native.”• More e-lit communities around the world result in

more international submissions to ELCs.• Digital divides across countries, languages,

ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic classes erode.• New platforms emerge, existing ones mature (and

fade).• Obsolescence continues, as do preservation

efforts.

Internet Users in the World

Internet Users by Region

Countries by Internet Usage

www.internetlivestats.com

Points of Entry forElectronic Literature

• Media: visual, audio, video, digital• Programming: code literacy, platform

literacy• Platforms: software, devices, interfaces• Videogames: play, cheating, hacking,

creation• Networks: net art, social media, mobile

Improving Conditions forElectronic Literature

• Advanced Literacy: digital, code, platform• Audience: scenes, dissemination• Community: collectives, organizations• Scholarship: history, discourse, analysis• Publication: publishers, market, profit

Thank you!Leonardo Flores, PhD

• blog: leonardoflores.net• e-mail:

leonardo.flores@upr.edu

• Twitter: @leonardo_UPRM

• Project: iloveepoetry.com