Cybertext (Ch1)
Lots of fancy words in this section. Have a dictionary handy. I'll get you started by posting links to a few definitions,
And that's just from the first page!
Aarseth is not writing for the general reader. He expects his readers to have a large vocabulary, and he expects his readers to be motivated enough by a desire to learn the material that they will look up unfamiliar words.
But if you look more carefully, you'll find that Aarseth often does explain an unfamiliar word. For instance, he uses "aporia" for the first time on page 2, but on page 3 he say "inaccessibility, it must be noted, does not imply ambiguity but, rather, an absence of possibility -- an aporia." So the careful reader will find an explanation of what Aarseth means by "aporia."
When you come across an unfamiliar word, I recommend that you underline it. If you can guess at the meaning of the word, or you find Aarseth provides a definition, draw a box around the definition. If you aren't sure what the words means, put a question mark in the margin, and keep reading. Then, when you get to the end of a chapter, go back and see whether you can figure out what those words mean. If not, now is the time to look them up (and write their definition in the margin).
And that's just from the first page!
Strategies for Reading a Complex Text
Aarseth is not writing for the general reader. He expects his readers to have a large vocabulary, and he expects his readers to be motivated enough by a desire to learn the material that they will look up unfamiliar words.
But if you look more carefully, you'll find that Aarseth often does explain an unfamiliar word. For instance, he uses "aporia" for the first time on page 2, but on page 3 he say "inaccessibility, it must be noted, does not imply ambiguity but, rather, an absence of possibility -- an aporia." So the careful reader will find an explanation of what Aarseth means by "aporia."
When you come across an unfamiliar word, I recommend that you underline it. If you can guess at the meaning of the word, or you find Aarseth provides a definition, draw a box around the definition. If you aren't sure what the words means, put a question mark in the margin, and keep reading. Then, when you get to the end of a chapter, go back and see whether you can figure out what those words mean. If not, now is the time to look them up (and write their definition in the margin).
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/TiffanyGilbert/2010/04/cybertext-development.html
Aarseth makes several arguments that seem relatable to recent technological innovations.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/MadelynGillespie/2010/04/cybertexts_and_fetishes.html
Cybertext might not be so bad afterall.
The iPad changes my outlook on electronic text and printed text, but I'm not sure it's changing reading culture all that much...
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JessicaKrehlik/2010/04/ibooks_vs_text_books.html
It seems like the digital world is already off-the-hinges.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/MeganSeigh/2010/04/cyber-what.html
I like games.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/ChelseaOliver/2010/04/i-want-to-play-a-game.html
Turns out it's just more of the same.