DH [Digital humanities] isn’t fundamentally digital; it’s fundamentally experimental.
Visconti, A., Dombrowski, Q., & Berger, C. (2024). #DHmakes: Baking Craft into DH Discourse. Korean Journal of Digital Humanities, 1(1), 73-108.
This quote grabbed my attention because it reframes digital humanities (DH) as a field driven by experimentation rather than something mainly digital. Reflecting back on the lab assignment for week 1, creating an object in Fusion 360 for the first time came with a lot of experimentation. Trying different tools and materials to create an object showed how although the medium for digital humanities may be digital, the subject is fundamentally rooted in experimentation. The process shows how testing, failing, and refining are key in this field.
The emphasis on experimentation resonates with several aspects of my life. As a resident assistant, I am continuously required to create programs for the residents, and most of the time, I end up creating new programs that I have not done before. While the residents end up loving some programs, some programs barely get any attendance. However, this trial and error enabled me to design programs that better align with my residents in the future.
Similarly in the future, I want to pursue a career as a medical doctor. This quote reminds me of the importance of experimentation in the field of medicine, from research to testing and adapting. It also relates to digital humanities in how it relies on digital tools, such as storing patient data, simulating scenarios, and visualizing results.
Under the large umbrella of digital arts and humanities, I am most eager to learn more about data visualization. As someone who is mainly interested in STEM courses, I want to see how the data visualization approach in this class is similar to or different from the techniques used in STEM disciplines. I imagine it might differ in its focus on storytelling and the interdisciplinary approach that digital arts aim to take. Ultimately, I hope to gain a broader perspective on combining data with narratives.
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That’s a quotation I liked from the readings too! It really highlights how so much of DH is still entirely new to us and how it’s a field that is still being shaped. I also like how you highlighted your own experience with the process of experimentation and how that resonates with you personally!