Code is “making” because we have figured out how to package it into discrete units and sell it. But you can also think about coding as eliciting a specific set of desired behaviors from computing devices. It is the Searle’s-Chinese-room take on the deeper, richer, messier, less reproducible, immeasurably more difficult version of what we do with people — change their cognition, abilities, and behaviors. We call the latter “education,” and it is mostly done by underpaid, undervalued women.
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 resonated with me because it highlights how undervalued jobs like education are, even though they focus on shaping minds and behaviors. These jobs don’t produce physical things, which is why they’re often overlooked. Growing up, I lived in a community where “making” or “building” something was seen as a measure of intelligence, and education wasn’t considered part of that. When I chose to major in computer science, it was because I wanted to make something tangible—something that could be seen and appreciated. But this quote made me think about this idea in a way I hadn’t before. It helped me realize how much we, as a society, undervalue work like caregiving and teaching. These roles might not produce visible products, but they are vital for building a better society. They promote growth and create change in meaningful but less obvious ways.
I’m excited to learn more about digital humanities because it’s such a broad and versatile field. There are many ways to define digital humanities, and I am eager to learn more and figure out what it means to me personally. As a computer science major, I was amazed this week to see how tools like WordPress and Fusion 360 make it easy for people to make something without needing advanced coding skills or high-end computers.
In digital humanities, I’m especially eager to explore web development and 3D design. These areas let me combine my technical knowledge with my love for creativity. I’ve always enjoyed creative arts like photography and graphic design because I love seeing a project come to life. I was happy with my first 3D design on Fusion, and I hope to work on more similar projects in the future.
Overall, I’m excited to continue exploring how digital humanities can help me connect my technical skills with creative expression. It’s a field that opens the door to endless possibilities, and I look forward to discovering new ways to build and create.
