Article on Pynchon wiki

[rich]

anyone have access to full-text?

rich

Information, Communication & Society; Apr2008, Vol. 11 Issue 2, p167-187, 21p


LITERARY SLEUTHS ONLINE: e-Research collaboration on the Pynchon Wiki.

This paper analyzes a Wiki which has been developed for annotating the
novel Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon in terms of how it functions
as a tool for online research collaboration. The annotation of this
long and complex work of fiction has taken place in a very short time,
with many contributors and great depth of coverage. We compare this
Wiki with an earlier single-authored annotation in book form of a
similar novel by the same author. This allows a comparison of
technology-mediated distributed collaborative annotation and
conventional annotation by a single author in book form. A comparison
is made between the kinds of entries made and the patterns of
contributions and the strengths and weaknesses of both processes of
annotation are analysed. The functions of this Wiki as a tool for
supporting the interpretation of the novel and a means of engagement
with a notoriously reclusive author are also discussed. Finally, the
strengths and weaknesses of this voluntary, amateur and low-tech type
of online collaboration are assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

    Copyright of Information, Communication & Society is the property
of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple
sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express
written permission. However, users may print, download, or email
articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No
warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer
to the original published version of the material for the full
abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts)
Author Affiliations:
    1James Martin Research Fellow, Oxford Internet Institute,
University of Oxford, 1 St. Giles, Oxford OX1 3JS, UK
    2Research Fellow, Oxford e-Research Centre at Oxford University
ISSN:
    1369-118X