Coding is a form of writing—one that enables new forms of expression and communication while fostering critical engagement with technology.
Kirschenbaum,Matthew. “Hello Worlds (Why Humanities Students Should Learn to Program).” 2010.
In today’s digital age, the ability to code is an invaluable skill, even for humanities students, just as Matthew Kirschenbaum emphasizes. I firmly believe that coding not only complements the analytical and creative skills cultivated in the humanities but also empowers students to actively participate in the digital landscape shaping our society. My experience with web development has reinforced this perspective, demonstrating how coding can open doors to innovative ways of presenting and analyzing humanistic content.
Before beginning this assignment, my coding background was limited to basic Python and R Studio. I decided to take the beginner tutorials on HTML and CSS and I learned how to structure web pages with semantic elements and style them using CSS. This process not only deepened my technical knowledge but also highlighted parallels between coding and the humanities. Just as writing an essay requires careful organization and clear argumentation, coding demands attention to structure and logic to effectively communicate ideas.
Critics like Kathi Inman Berens Donahue argue against the necessity of coding for humanities students, suggesting that it diverts attention from traditional scholarly pursuits. She contends, “Humanities students should focus on interpreting and critiquing technology, rather than becoming technologists themselves.” While this perspective raises valid concerns, I see coding as a tool that enhances, rather than detracts from, humanistic inquiry. By learning to code, we gain the ability to create and manipulate digital platforms that can amplify our research and reach wider audiences.
Here is a simple example of code I created during the tutorials to build a personal webpage:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Humanities Meets Coding</title>
<style>
body {
font-family: 'Georgia', serif;
background-color: #f5f5f5;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
header {
background-color: #4CAF50;
color: white;
padding: 10px;
text-align: center;
}
main {
padding: 20px;
}
footer {
background-color: #333;
color: white;
text-align: center;
padding: 10px 0;
position: fixed;
bottom: 0;
width: 100%;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<header>
<h1>Welcome to My Digital Humanities Journey</h1>
</header>
<main>
<p>Learning to code has been a rewarding experience, blending creativity with technical precision. I’m excited to continue exploring how coding can enhance humanities scholarship.</p>
</main>
<footer>
<p>© 2025 Humanities Meets Coding</p>
</footer>
</body>
</html>1 thought on “Week 2 Lab –Coding”
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“I see coding as a tool that enhances, rather than detracts from, humanistic inquiry.” I 100% agree with you on this. Coding shouldn’t be seen as something that forces you to be a programmer, but rather, it’s a very powerful tool that can be used to enhanced humanistic inquiry. It creates a ton more possibilities in the way of presenting and preserving information that comes from humanistic research which I believe is something that should be taken advantage of. Good work, I really enjoyed reading your perspective.