In Bolter, it is explained that writing space is a combination of what materials you are working with along with the cultural choices and practices. "Moreover, each space depends for it's meaning on previous spaces or on contemporary spaces against which it competes (12). I am including this quote and paraphrase to preface the rest of my entry. Each writing space we have utilized throughout history has been less advanced than the one to follow, creating an upgrade as each new space is created. An example of this is used in Bolter by the comparison of the hierarchal order of the scroll, to the codex, to the written book; each was an upgrade from the previous. An example I personally might use would be an upgrade from written work, to the typewriter, to the computer. However, although we could compare several forms of writings spaces to another and argue which is an upgrade from the next, I think the more important stream of thought to consider is that found in a quote in bolter.
"Writing, even writing on a computer screen, is a material practice, and it becomes difficult for a culture to decide where thinking ends and the materiality of writing begins, where the mind ends and the writing space begins. With any technique of writing--on stone or clay, on papyrus or paper, and on the computer screen--the writer may come to regard the mind itself as a writing space" (13).
Bolter suggests that although the form with which we choose to record our thoughts down on might change, the writing space itself--the mind--does not change at all and in fact stands as the writing space throughout history.
With these thoughts laid down from my writing space, I am now going to answer a more interesting question. What does hypertext refashion? I think that hypertext refashions a technology, and not a writing space. Hypertext just allows us to move from one web page to another in a speedy fashion, while steering us directly to an image, table, or page of information that we wanted to gain more insight on. (This example is described in Bolter between pages 33-34). With this being said, I see the hypertext as refashioning the previous webpage that lacked the usage of direct links. However, I do think the idea of hypertext follows the reformation of a new writing space--the way we think about things in our mind. Nowadays we want to move to from one thing to another with great speed; hence I think we are refashioning our technological options to fit our refashioned writing spaces in our minds.
To further understand the definition of hypertext and relating vocab please visit:
http://cyberartsweb.org/cpace/ht/htov.html
Hi Angela,
Great reflections here on the reading. Bolter's quote about writing space and the mind is also one I have highlighted in my textbook! I like your point about hypertext refashioning technology and not necessarily a writing space. It's an interesting thought. When we think about writing space, do we think "technology"? Or if the mind is our ultimate writing space, it does not matter much where we put the words. Those are interesting thoughts. Keep doing a good job reflecting on the readings!