Hypertext is a paradigm shift, the embodiment of literary theories. It is a new structure of narratives that rejects notions of linearity and embraces concepts of networks; multiple networks that interact with one another without any hierarchical structures. Hypertext also incorporates audio and visual elements and relies upon reader interaction and involvement. (#)

There is not one linear narrative in any historical story, and herein lies the beauty in the potential of the web and hypertext, there is the potential to deploy the encyclopedic properties of the web in order to capture the complexity of it. However, the danger in the use of the technology and the web is that in order to encapsulate a large unruly, complex story, important pieces of information are omitted so as to fit the package. This commonly happens with film, television, cd-rom and computer games, however, where the web differs from this is the fact that there is potential, there is a boundless web of information out there. Where one site decides not to include something, there is the opportunity to link to another site that deals with the given information and so on…

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Theories of Hypertext

History and Hypertext: the role of the narrative

History and Technology

CNN

PBS

Hypermedia

Conclusions

Footnotes