Genre-Blurring and Digital Literatures: Authorial Presence in English E-novels and Web Serials
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55927/fjmr.v4i11.601Keywords:
Genre-Blurring, Digital Literatures, Authorial Presence, E-novels, Web SerialsAbstract
The rapid development of digital publishing platforms has transformed the British literary landscape, removing traditional boundaries between genres and reshaping the concept of authorship in the online narrative space. This study examines the phenomenon of genre-blurring and the evolution of author presence in English-language e-novels and web series as a product of digital literary culture. The aim of this research is to analyze how hybrid forms between genres emerge in digital narratives as well as how the interaction between author and reader redefines textual authority in a participatory environment. The research uses a descriptive qualitative approach based on digital literature studies and narrative analysis, involving twenty e-novels and web series in English selected purposively from various major online platforms. Data were collected through text analysis and digital observation of author-reader interactions, then analyzed using thematic coding techniques and interpretive narrative analysis. The results show that genre mixing serves as a creative strategy that allows for narrative flexibility and increased reader engagement, while author presence is manifested through direct communication and adaptive storytelling practices that respond to reader feedback. The conclusions of this study show a significant shift from individual authorship towards the creation of collaborative meaning, confirming that digital literature is not just a technological evolution, but a cultural reconstruction of literary production.
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