21ST CENTURY
LITERARY
GENRES
HYPERTEXT POETRY AND FICTION
• Rather than using a printed page, hypertext
poetry and fiction use computer screen to
navigate through sections of the text.
• uniqueness of digital world and uniquely
presents information.
• Aside from the content and message, it also creates
effects such as movement and sounds.
HYPERTEXT POETRY
• Also known as cyber poetry, it consists
of words, although not necessarily
organized in lines and stanzas, as well
as sounds, visual images, movements
or other special effects.
EXAMPLES:
HYPERTEXT FICTION
• Hypertext fiction is a collective effort between
reader and writer, where the writer provides
interlaced web pages of text and the reader
decides what order to read the pages. In some
hypertext works, readers can even add their
own work to the fiction and change the plot.
EXAMPLES:
CRITICISM ON HYPERTEXT GENRE:
• Many critics in literary circles see hypertext literature as a
“humorless digital postmodern joke” that assaults readers with
floating neon fonts and crude literary strategies (Lillington, 1998).
• They view hypertext as a threat to the overall integrity of literature
because most anyone, without any training or editing, can post
hypertext poetry or fiction, even if their work does not include.
FLASH FICTION
• also known as short-short-stories or micro fiction since
these stories are no longer than 1500 words and are
designed to be read in four to five minutes (Gunner, n.d.).
• It’s a challenge for the writer to get across a full story in
just few words, but when this happens, it will benefit both
the reader and the writer.
TRAITS FLASH FICTION STORIES:
1.Story Structure.
-it still follows the elements of plot,
including the beginning, middle and
end, as well as a conflict and a
satisfying resolution.
TRAITS FLASH FICTION STORIES:
2. Setting.
-Most flash fiction stories take place in
one setting, as moving between locations
uses up too much space. It allows the
writer and reader to focus on the plot.
TRAITS FLASH FICTION STORIES:
3. Characters and backstory.
-Flash fiction pieces are plot-driven and include
no more than three or four characters. They
may include some character development, but
too much backstory can use valuable space.
TRAITS FLASH FICTION STORIES:
4. Description.
One may think that flash fiction stories are short on
description to save space. However, a strong piece
can balance vivid descriptions with a quick-moving
plot. Stories that lack description are not satisfying to
read, and a flash fiction piece should feel complete.
SHORTER FORMS OF FLASH FICTION:
1. Micro fiction is a story under 250 words. This kind of story tends
to start in the second act of the story to focus more on the climax
and often has a surprise ending.
2. Six-Word Stories have no exact beginning middle, or end, but tell
an entire story in only six words. In excerpt 3, the story structure
manages to establish character, conflict, and tone without direct
exposition. Readers are left to their own tragic interpretation when
it comes to the words that are not present.
