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Electronic literature, generally considered to exclude print literature that has been digitized, is by contrast "digital born," a first-generation digital object created on a computer and (usually) meant to be read on a computer. The Electronic Literature Organization, whose mission is to "promote the writing, publishing, and reading of literature in electronic media," convened a committee headed by Noah Wardrip-Fruin, himself a creator and critic of electronic literature, to come up with a definition appropriate to this new field. The committee's choice was framed to include both work performed in digital media and work created on a computer but published in print (as, for example, was Brian Kim Stefans's computer-generated poem "Stops and Rebels"). The committee's formulation: "work with an important literary aspect that takes advantage of the capabilities and contexts provided by the stand-alone or networked computer."
The definition given by the Electronic Literature Organization is very helpful because it shows how important the literary elements are when using digital technology. This view encourages us to see literature in a new way today, understanding that moving to digital forms is a growth, not a decline, in literary art. For example, Brian Kim Stefans's work "Stops and Rebels" demonstrates how creating on digital platforms and then printing them can enhance our understanding of literature.
Additionally, we must recognize that digital media offers features like interactivity, non-linearity, and multimedia, which allow readers to experience texts in new ways. These features not only challenge traditional storytelling but also change how readers engage with literature. So, saying that electronic literature thrives on computers—whether connected to the internet or not—both emphasizes its special characteristics and encourages us to explore this exciting field further.
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