By the mid-20th century, the modern research university assumed its present form, with segmented humanities departments separated from the natural and social sciences as well as from vocational and professional schools. Digital work challenges many of these separations, promoting dialogue not only across established disciplinary lines but also across the pure/applied, qualitative/quantitative, and theoretical/practical divides.
Burdick et al. “One: From Humanities to Digital Humanities,” in Digital_Humanities (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2012), 7.
In the process of gaining a preliminary understanding of Digital Humanities, the above quote particularly stood out to me. It suggests that at its core, Digital Humanities is about developing communication between disciplines and facilitating a platform for cooperation.
The Humanities are ultimately a series of disciplines designed to understand the human experience. Though the Humanities have been segmented and acknowledged as their own discipline I can’t help but note that: it shouldn’t be forgotten all parts of the human experience are of interest to Humanists, including on some level the fields of STEM.
This understanding of the Digital Humanities seems to resonate with me personally because of my wide variety of interests. I’m just as fascinated and enamored with the sciences as I am with the Humanities, so, the idea that Digital Humanities is a way to bridge the gap between the two only serves to drive my interest further into the field.
I’m particularly interested in the idea of using modern tools and technology to visualize history in new and imaginative ways. For example: using three-dimensional design tools to reconstruct historical buildings or environments. I’m especially enamored by the possibility that we might be able to use such technology to see things that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
As we continue to delve into the realm of Digital Humanities, I’m looking forward to developing knowledge and skills related to three-dimensional design, photography, and video. I believe those skills and more are instrumental to bringing what often seems as the very far past close to the present.
