After viewing the hypertext “Red Riding Hood,” my first thought was that it must absolutely be a legitimate text because it is based on an actual, and very well-known, text that has been passed from generation to generation. My logic stemmed from the fact that in order for this passing amongst generations to have occurred, the text has been transformed so that it is identifiable with the different audiences of each time period. I did not at first think that the transformation from book form to the computerized form found on the internet would make a profound difference; I, however, was very wrong. To me, in order for a text to be legitimate it must communicate a message or fact and have a linear or obvious sequence; the hypertext “Red Riding Hood” is lacking both of these elements.
The original tale of “Red Riding Hood” communicates the message that young girls should be wary of suitors for they may be interested in them for the wrong reasons. Over time, however, the message became that children should be wary of talking to strangers. Neither of these messages is communicated in the electronic text of “Red Riding Hood.” In the hypertext, there are no words spoken or written and because of this, the scenes are very hard to follow. This version of “Red Riding Hood” is a feminist version and therefore the tale is much different from the original. Even after multiple viewings and research on feminists’ views of “Little Red Riding Hood,” I could still not depict any type of message or plausible storyline. My lack of interpretation though may also stem from the fact that there are many pathways that can be taken throughout the hypertext.
In the hypertext, there are multiple times where the reader must make a choice as to where Red (the author’s nickname for Little Red Riding Hood) will go or what will happen in her dreams if the viewer has chosen to take that pathway. These choices do not ever lead to a logical story; they instead take the viewer through a maze of random, non-sequential images that I have found to make no sense at all. After viewing this hypertext, a viewer may be almost dumb-founded as to what exactly they have witnessed. For me, even after several viewings, I still have no idea what happened or why in this hypertext and I do not believe I will ever find out. I am very aware that there are many books in this world that are just as, and possible more, mindboggling than this hypertext. The difference, however, is that in books, at least the reader is aware as to what order they are supposed to interpret the information and that detail may help the reader to eventually depict a meaning from the text. The hypertext “Red Riding Hood” takes the viewer in a different direction every time that it is viewed and therefore makes it all the more difficult to depict any meaning.
