as we broaden access to making, we should celebrate and foster education, maintenance, analysis, critique, and, above all, caregiving — all of the undervalued, underappreciated, ongoing work of making other people’s lives better.
Debbie Chachra, “Beyond Making,” in Making Things and Drawing Boundaries: Experiments in the Digital Humanities, ed. Jentry Sayers, Debates in the Digital Humanities (University of Minnesota Press, 2017).
This passage from Debbie Chachra’s article Beyond Making really grabbed my attention because it emphasizes how as a society our definition regarding “making” is extremely narrow and should be more inclusive. She described the idea of “making” to be historically gendered, especially since society correlates the word “making” to creating something that is visible or tangible. For example, the traditional viewpoint of making is often connected to building, engineering, or inventing which are areas that have been historically dominated by men. Women on the other hand were only considered makers in the kitchen and home. Their work was often undervalued and not as highly praised compared to the makers that are men. However, Chachra argues that “making” goes far beyond what is merely visible. It encompasses not only the creation of tangible and physical objects but also the ability to contribute to the world in ways that may be intangible but just as impactful. The “making” that is associated with nurturing relationships or creating inclusive spaces has just as much of an impact on the world as more traditional and physical forms of making. This broader concept of making involves using one’s skills, knowledge, and creativity to influence positive change in society, whether through building relationships or fostering community. This broader view of making resonated with me deeply. By broadening the definition of making, we can recognize the power in things that are often overlooked.
Within the field of Digital Arts and the Humanities, I am most eager to strengthen my skills in 3D modeling. I have dabbled with 3D modeling very briefly in a previous class but seemed to struggle a bit when it came to modeling more intricate objects. I also think it’s really cool how 3D modeling can tell a story. There are so many applications where creating a model can help yourself or others, so I am excited to gain a deeper understanding in the various techniques related to 3D modeling.
