Umberto Eco’s Opera Aperta and the Birth of Italian Electronic Literature

The convergence of electronic media and literary forms during the digital revolution has produced a variety new hybrid genres which we call today ‘electronic literature’. In Italy, literature rich history. It was born in cultural milieu Neoavanguardia early 1960s and, since then, it significant number experimental works practices. this article, I take into consideration originated examine some first Italian “electronic” writer, Nanni Balestrini. will contextualise Umberto Eco’s Opera aperta its context, with special focus on foundational concepts “open work” (crisis, interactivity, entropy). section 3, argue that does not only coincide birth work, namely Balestrini’s Tape Mark I, but also provides theoretical methodological framework to analyse across decades from both an aesthetic critical perspective. my analysis key collaborations following section, emphasise how formal experimentation political intention are strictly intertwined critically address important questions about our relationship technologies, such as automation alienation. Finally, conclusion, highlight points make modern concept ‘opera aperta’ effective tool for exploring ‘open textuality’ artists have come terms expression offered by media.