Hypertext Codex
Like the paratextual features that came before it, hypertext has fundamentally changed not only the way we read, but the way we conceptualize information. Hypertext does this by semantically linking pieces of information together so that users can easily navigate between them. However, by networking such vast arrays of information together we have introduced an unprecedented level of distraction to the reading experience. The advantages of hypertext’s non-linear abilities are well documented, but what does the user miss as a result of this newly afforded agency? To visualize this I have created a codex of all the texts I’ve referenced over the course of the semester. These texts are linked together in the style of a game book in order to mimic the non-linear reading environment of the screen. When reading this book the weight of the texts the reader never sees is meant to give a physical presence to the way that hyperlinks shape our reading experience.