This literary and cultural studies module examines writing on and about the web. We will look at both paper and online texts in order to:

• investigate the relationship between 'new' media technologies, writing and reading
• assess changing definitions of literature and of fiction
• evaluate cultures of web use

Our critical tools will be varied, drawing on existing feminist ideas within cultural and literary criticism and on media-specific analysis of web fiction as well as, of necessity, developing our own - perhaps tentative - perspectives and theories.

A willingness to take risks and a desire to engage with web technologies is more important than any prior knowledge, although existing literary, cultural or technical expertise is very welcome. This is, after all, new media and I am happy to work with a variety of starting skills, a range that will, undoubtedly, enhance the learning process for the entire group.

Alongside reading texts we will also write texts, perhaps via the production of simple web pages or through collaborative, simultaneous online writing. The point of these workshops is to generate understanding of the process of new media fiction, so 'bad writing' is fine!

While this module expects a lot of its students, full support will be given to help you develop the apposite skills. You are encouraged to devise your own assignment in consultation with me, and this can be presented in traditional form or, if more appropriate, as an electronic essay. By the end of the course you should:

• understand relevant literary and cultural feminist theory
• be skilled in reading web-based creative work
• have access to a range of methodologies suitable for assessing and theorising web-based and other, similar, electronic media (eg CDROMS)
• be reasonably proficient in simple web writing, which might include a basic knowledge of HTML, using BLOGs and interacting on MOOS