5 Forms of (living) Text

1. Tweets

Tweets serve as small lines of information, opinion, or insight created for the purpose of an audience of followers. Depending on the format of the tweet (hashtags or @ mentions) individuals may communicate with a larger audience. Tweets may be humorous or inspirational, but they also may be politically moving or argumentative. All-in-all, tweets are alive because they activate a network of users.

2. Syllabi 

  The syllabus for this class is also part of the world of live text. We read it, and from its information, we act accordingly. It may be referred to by the instructor to defend his policies, or it may be referred to by students as they complete assignments throughout the semester. I think that a syllabus beautifully fits into the idea of text being alive Bazerman and Russell, as it fulfills all of the following: "serve to mediate between people, activate their thoughts, direct their attention, coordinate their actions, provide the means of relationship."

3. Comments (on Youtube, Blogs, Social Media)

We often look to the source material as the textual creation, but often comments are more active and alive sources of text than the source text. On Youtube and social media, comments may be negative or positive. Often, commenters respond to each other, and the uploader responds to comments. They may spark ideas (as suggestions do), or they may hurt the uploader, such as the negative comment above indicates.

4. Op-ed columns 

Op-ed columns are engaging and often take a specific stance on an issue or situation. They are alive because they take a critical stance to get their audience thinking about their own opinions. They can inspire action, or critique. In the world of journalism, this type of writing acts as interactive and expands the bounds of strict information.

5. Menus

Menus showcase information to be read, then force an audience to make a choice. They engage a relationship between audience members ("Honey, what should I get?") and between the audience and the server. They are alive because they are constantly being read and put down and read and put down. Changes occur to them, but they still maintain their initial purpose. They activate thoughts, direct attention, and coordinate actions of the diner.