The onset of the digital movement has lead to many developments such as Big Data, modern computational methods, digital archives for arts and humanities, digital and technological tools and much more. As consumers, a myriad of information, data, resources, facts, and tools are thrown at us. While it is easy to become seduced by the power, reach and depth of these, it is equally important to have the skill to navigate and creatively engage with them. The pedagogy of my undergraduate course Liberal Arts, is deep rooted in interdisciplinary studies, intensive academic research, fieldwork, and the integration of technology in classrooms, to name a few. Attending these sessions has made me think critically of the media we consume and their evolution, evaluate the role technology and digitisation play in research, and examine new ways of forming and organising information.
Professor Jatindra Kumar mentioned the importance of human sensibilities in studying literature, and similarly, Professor Jim Clifford’s assigned reading by Lara Putnam delved into the importance of fieldwork in creating experiential awareness in the humanities. This helped me understand the question of the value of human experience, emotion, and contextualisation in academic research. Then, both Professor Barbara Bordalejo and Professor Tannishtha Samanta used digital platforms and technology as floors for studying representation. In both lectures, one of the conclusions was that digital media also allows for more discourse on various disciplines that would have otherwise been neglected such as sociology, anthropology and feminism, that help theorise in humanities. An example of this is the contrast between women receiving rape threats online and cyber stalking, and with the new digital feminist activism. The latter can be exemplified through sending digital invites and creation of online events for movements such as the ‘Slutwalk’ in Toronto. Both of these opposing examples in the position and respect women are given, but are possible at the same time because of digital media. More debates arise in my mind about access, replicability, owners, and safeguards of information and content because of online and digital media. Professor Uttama Lahiri and Mr. Junaid Hashmi showed us the ways in which technology like AI and mobile apps could be tamed to cater to the needs and aspirations of the people. Lastly, the talks by Professor Peter Robinson and Professor K. P. Jayashankar helped bring forth the creation of new imaginations from historical texts and events.
The scope of all of these lectures are broad and interconnected. The research conducted in digital humanities goes twofold: digital technologies are used to create knowledge in the humanities, and humanities question and build up on digital technologies. It can almost be said that the new form and nature of information being created by digital technologies can be integrated with humanistic theories and frameworks.
Some interesting activities we are doing is engaging with what we are learning by doing readings before lectures and asking questions both inside and outside the classroom. On Twitter and on the WIDH blog, I am able to reflect and unwind on my daily experiences and how they contribute to a larger, more overarching understanding of the academic and even non- academic field.
With one more week to go, I am excited and nervous about what is yet to come. I hope I get the opportunity to develop newer processes, expressions, designs and research.
Winter Institute in Digital Humanities 