| dc.description.abstract | In this thesis, I analyze a selection of works of hypertext fiction, created in various software, published through different avenues, and under different labels, published between 1995 and 2015. A common theme among the chosen works is the matter of queer identity. The goal is to investigate the overall structure and literary qualities unique to digital interactive works, and to apply this towards understanding in what ways this can inform the subject matter of such works. Interactivity is the core feature of digital media. A computer is capable of responding to human interaction instantaneously and directly, opening possibilities for forms of media that in a pre-digital age were only possible through much more significant effort on the part of the reader. By building texts that provide the reader with direct influence, new stories can be told, which are open to multiplicity, self-contradiction, and unsettled identities. Through my thesis, I work towards a theoretical framework that combines prior writing on cybertext with object-oriented ontology and rhizome theory. This theoretical framework is developed through an ongoing conversation with and analysis of the chosen works of hypertext fiction. I find that there is a potential for expressing complex personal identities and changing selves in this form of literature that naturally opens itself to writing about these topics. There is an ongoing conversation in these works between their content and their form, with each providing structure and potential for expression to the other. | eng |