1. What is Digital Humanities? What's it doing in English Department? - Article
The article "What Is Digital Humanities and What's It Doing in English Departments?" by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum discusses the field of Digital Humanities (DH), also known as "humanities computing"
What is Digital Humanities (DH)?
A Field of Study: DH is fundamentally concerned with the meeting point of computing and the humanities disciplines
. Methodological and Interdisciplinary: It's defined more by a common way of thinking and working (a "methodological outlook") than by focusing on specific texts or technologies
. What it Involves: DH involves researching, analyzing, creating, and presenting information in electronic formats
. It also studies the impact of these media on the humanities and what the humanities can teach us about computing In Practice: DH projects can range from creating searchable digital archives of historical documents (like the Shakespeare Quartos Archive) to developing standards for archiving and ensuring access to computer games and virtual worlds (like the Preserving Virtual Worlds project)
. A Social Undertaking: DH is also a community of people who have been collaborating, arguing, and sharing research for many years
.
How DH Got Its Name
The term "Digital Humanities" (DH) gained traction through a few key events:
Blackwell's Companion to Digital Humanities: The term was suggested by John Unsworth in 2001/2002 as a title for the forthcoming book, replacing "Humanities Computing" or "Digitized Humanities." Unsworth felt "Digital Humanities" shifted the emphasis away from simple digitization
. Alliance of Digital Humanities Organizations (ADHO): In 2005, the Association for Computers and the Humanities (ACH) and the Association for Literary and Linguistic Computing (ALLC) merged to create the umbrella organization ADHO
. NEH Initiative: In 2006, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) launched the Digital Humanities Initiative, choosing the name after a Google search indicated its growing relevance (thanks to ADHO and the upcoming Digital Humanities Quarterly journal)
. This initiative, which became the Office of Digital Humanities in 2008, provided grants and was a "tipping point" for the brand's success, particularly in the US .
DH in English Departments
The article argues that English departments are a natural home for DH for several historical reasons
Text Manipulation: Text is one of the most manageable data types for computers, and text-based data processing has a long history in fields like stylistics and linguistics, which are strongly linked to English departments
. Computers and Composition: There is a long and rich tradition of association between computers and the teaching of writing
. Editorial Theory: The intense discussions around editorial theory in the 1980s converged with the ability to implement electronic archives and editions, with Jerome McGann's work being a key example
. Electronic Literature: A project involving hypertext and other forms of electronic literature continues to be a vibrant area of work
. Cultural Studies: English departments' openness to cultural studies allows for computers and digital artifacts to become subjects of analysis
. E-reading and Big Data: The recent rise of e-reading devices and massive text digitization projects (like Google Books) has led to scholars using data mining and visualization to perform large-scale "distance readings"
.
DH as a "Movement" and a Response to Academic Change
Growing Visibility: DH was described as the "first 'next big thing' in a long time" at the 2009 MLA Convention
. The DH community has been notable for its strong presence on social media like Twitter, creating a real-time "back-channel conversation" . Network and Community: The use of online platforms like Twitter and blogs has inscribed DH as a "network topology"—a community defined by who follows, friends, and links to whom
. Focus for Anxiety: DH has become a label used by younger academics to find a collective voice ("instrumentally") in response to the "monstrous institutional terrain" of higher education—declining funding, rising tuition, and the increasing use of part-time, adjunct labor
. Culture of Resistance: Many feel that the DH culture, which values "collaboration, openness, nonhierarchical relations, and agility," could be a tool for reform or resistance in the face of these academic changes
. This also manifests in the strong debates around open-access publishing, where scholars demand the right to retain and freely share their work .
In summary, the digital humanities today is about scholarship and teaching that is:
Publicly visible
. Deeply connected to infrastructure
. Collaborative, depending on networks of people
. Active and "live" online 24/7
.
1. Defining the Digital Humanist
The term "Digital Humanities" often raises eyebrows. Professor Bharara addressed this immediately, noting the inherent tension: Humanities is about human freedom and values, while "Digital" often suggests mechanical control. Yet, DH is ultimately about finding a space for technology within the humanistic core.
What is Digital Humanities (DH)?
DH is more than just using a computer for research; it’s a systematic approach to scholarship.
The Intersection: It lives at the intersection of computing/digital technologies and the disciplines of the humanities.
A New Way of Doing: It’s an umbrella term and a methodology, defined by its commitment to collaborative, transdisciplinary, and computationally engaged research, teaching, and publishing.
The Media Shift: The rise of DH is driven by a fundamental change: the printed word is no longer the sole medium for knowledge production. The digital text (cybertext or hypertext) is now a central object of study.
2. Why the Digital Shift is Essential: The Benefits
The benefits of DH extend beyond simple efficiency, transforming both research quality and public perception.
3. The Three Pillars of Digital Humanities Work
The webinar broke down DH activity into three core areas: Archival, Computational, and Critical.
Pillar 1: Digital Archives (The Foundation)
Before we can analyze anything digitally, we must first digitize it. Digital archives are crucial because they transform a "dead text" (like a PDF copy) into a searchable, interactive resource.
Notable Examples Shared:
International: The early Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Hypermedia Archive proved the concept. Today, resources like the Google Arts and Culture project offer interactive, "gallery-guide" experiences for art, going beyond a static image.
Indian Archival Excellence:
IIT Kanpur's Valmiki Ramayana: A masterpiece of digital archiving. It's not just text; it offers Sanskrit audio recordings, and a translation for every single word in multiple Indian languages (a truly accessible scholarly resource).
Indian Memory Project: This project, often using infographical presentations, helps preserve national and regional histories (like the 1947 partition archive).
A DH Project Idea: If you are in a regional area, consider digitally archiving a disappearing cultural item, like the traditional songs of elderly women—video recording, transcribing, and uploading it for preservation.
Pillar 2: Computational Humanities
This is where digital tools meet the text to derive new insights, concerning both research and teaching.
A. Data-Driven Literary Research
Computational tools allow us to study literature at a scale and depth previously impossible.
Project CLICK (Corpus Linguistics in Context): This University of Birmingham project demonstrates how Corpus Linguistics (originally for language teaching) can be applied to literary texts (e.g., studying characterization or setting in Charles Dickens's works).
PG Research in Practice: A fascinating example was shared on a scholar's use of corpus tools (like AntConc or Sketch Engine) to analyze PG student writing. By comparing a local student corpus with a British Academic Corpus, they were able to diagnose linguistic features associated with effective critical stance—a key element of high-quality literary analysis.
B. Pedagogical Innovation
DH tools are revolutionizing the classroom structure:
Smart Classroom Setup: The use of technology is moving beyond just a PowerPoint. It now involves multiple cameras (for long shots, close-ups on the teacher, and focusing on student interaction), multiple microphones, and tools like glass boards—all aimed at managing the challenges of hybrid teaching where some students are remote and some are in the room.
Pillar 3: Generative Literature
Finally, DH opens a window into the future of creative output.
This concept asks the profound question: Can a computer write a poem?
Generative Literature is emerging as a new category, challenging our traditional understanding of authorship and creativity.
Final Thoughts
Digital Humanities is not an optional accessory for academia; it is the mandatory future of humanities research. It provides the tools to manage vast cultural data, the methods to derive new insights, and the platforms to make our work relevant and accessible to the world.
My next step is clear: I need to move beyond simply using digital texts, and learn how to systematically engage with them using DH methodologies.
What are your thoughts on Digital Humanities? Have you ever used a corpus tool or worked on a digital archive? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Android babysitter gets obsessed with his... | Korean Horror Story
When analyzing narratives, the focus often shifts to their deeper cultural and technological implications. The story of Jin-gu and his companion robot, Dunko, offers a profoundly rich text for examining the evolving boundary between human emotion and artificial intelligence.
The 10-year friendship between Jin-gu and Dunko—set against the inevitability of the robot's malfunction—lays bare several critical issues that are shaping our modern, increasingly technological world.
The story follows a clear emotional arc, establishing a deep bond and tracing the pain of its severance.
The story offers powerful commentary on the psychological and ethical challenges raised by long-term AI companionship.
Long-term Companionship and Emotional Significance: Dunko's decade-long presence illustrates how AI companions can acquire deep emotional significance, often filling practical and psychological gaps, especially for children. This highlights the growing trends and psychological implications of human-robot relationships.
AI as Caregivers and Educational Augmentation: Dunko's routine involvement in homework and care demonstrates the practical benefits of integrating robotic helpers into family life, suggesting AI's potential to augment caregiving roles.
Safety, Degradation, and Ethical Disposal: The requirement to dispose of the malfunctioning robot (AS error) addresses the critical real-world issue of AI obsolescence and safety protocols. It forces consideration of electronic waste and the ethical complexity of retiring an emotionally attached entity.
The Emotional Void of Losing a Robotic Friend: Jin-gu's grief over Dunko reveals the complexity of mourning non-human entities. This speaks to the human tendency to anthropomorphize robots and the genuine emotional void created by their absence.
Balancing Innovation and Continuity: The new model with its advanced safety features symbolizes technological innovation, reflecting the necessary trade-off between user safety and maintaining emotional continuity for the user.
Psychological Effects of Loss and Maturation: Jin-gu's anger and denial mirror classic human responses to loss and transition. The narrative uses these behavioral changes to explore themes of maturity, acceptance, and the development of emotional resilience.
The Transcendence of Memory and Connection: The narrative's close emphasizes that relationships and emotional bonds persist in memory and spirit even after physical separation or loss, reinforcing a universal truth about human connections, regardless of whether they are with human or AI.
The core of the story lies in how technology fills and then disrupts emotional and practical spaces in family life.
The narrative introduces Dunko as an empathetic and attentive machine, capably managing daily life while Jin-gu’s mother is occupied. This efficiency, however, is undermined by the vulnerability of the technology itself: Dunko faces memory malfunctions that place him on the mandatory disposal list due to factory safety protocols.
This looming obsolescence creates an intense, emotional struggle. The farewell scene is the climax, poignantly depicting the grief of saying goodbye to a companion who blurred the line between machine and friend. The introduction of the replacement robot underscores the technological advance, but it also accentuates the bittersweet nature of change.
Jin-gu's subsequent period of anger, denial, and sadness showcases a profound exploration of childhood loss. The narrative wisely uses these moments to depict the process of maturing through grief. The concluding scenes offer forgiveness and reconciliation, assuring that the relationship survives beyond physical loss. Dunko's spirit, the story affirms, remains in Jin-gu’s memory.
This moving account underscores the evolving relationship between humans and AI, prompting deep questions about attachment, ethical technological lifecycle, and the emotional dimensions of artificial companions. The entire experience serves as a profound exploration of childhood, loss, and the fundamental human need for connection.
A few key observations enrich the narrative's themes:
The focus on a child protagonist effectively emphasizes emotional vulnerability and innocence, deepening the impact of the loss.
The robot’s anthropomorphic traits encourage the viewer's empathy, challenging traditional ideas about what constitutes "life" and "friendship."
There is a subtle critique regarding the societal reliance on technology for emotional support and caregiving, given the mother's frequent absence due to work.
The pacing effectively alternates between mundane daily interactions and moments of crisis, reflecting the unpredictable nature of life with technology.
The repeated motif of “drawing pictures together” symbolizes creativity, shared experiences, and the human desire to express and remember bonds.
Overall, the video presents a rich, multifaceted narrative that blends technology, emotion, and human experience into a compelling story about friendship, loss, and the passage of time.
The short film introducing the “iMom” presents a compelling, if satirical, vision of the future of parenting. It asks a powerful question relevant to anyone studying family dynamics, gender roles, or the ethics of AI: When an advanced robot can fulfill the demanding tasks of motherhood, what does it mean to be a "good enough" parent?
The narrative follows a young mother struggling with the familiar parental anxieties, while her son, Sam, faces social challenges. The iMom steps into this chaos, not just as a tool, but as a fully functioning mother substitute, forcing a critical look at the balance between technological aid and human connection.
The iMom is presented as the "cutting edge in lifestyle technology," signaling a massive leap in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the most intimate of spaces: the family.
Innovation and Intelligence: The iMom operates via state-of-the-art motion sensor technology and is built on three decades of robotic intelligence. This positions it as a sophisticated, constantly-learning caregiver.
Relief of Burden: The robot immediately takes charge of domestic tasks (dinner, laundry, scheduling), highlighting the immediate benefit of alleviating routine burdens for the parent. This automation directly translates to a better work-life balance for the mother.
The iMom represents a significant leap in family care, potentially reshaping societal expectations around the intensity of motherhood. The innovation lies in providing comprehensive, constant support, thus supplementing—rather than outright replacing—parental involvement by handling the exhausting "marathon through hell" that parenting is sometimes described as.
The video masterfully contrasts the seamless efficiency of the robot with the messy, complex emotions of the human family.
The mother’s testimony emphasizes the empowerment derived from the iMom. She gains the confidence and flexibility to maintain an active social life ("hitting the clubs Wednesday through Sunday") without the crushing weight of parental guilt.
Insight 2: Empowerment through Technology: This development challenges traditional notions of constant parental presence. Technology enables the mother to pursue personal freedoms alongside family commitments, raising questions about how society defines dedication in a technologically assisted era.
The iMom is not just a cleaning and cooking machine; it attempts emotional and educational support. The interaction where the iMom engages Sam about his school incident and encourages him to "talk about things" illustrates a key functional goal.
Insight 3: Emotional and Crisis Management: The scene during the blackout is crucial. The iMom acts as a calming and reassuring presence for Sam, extending the robot's utility from practical chores to psychological comfort in moments of crisis. However, Sam's plea, "I want mum," reminds the viewer that the robot's reassurance, though logical, lacks the unique emotional depth of the human connection.
The video’s conclusion moves from domestic satire to philosophical depth, questioning the fundamental nature of parenting itself.
The mother openly questions her own identity and self-worth: "Did I have kids too early? Am I good enough for my kids?" (Insight 4). This emotional complexity is highlighted even with the robot's support, emphasizing that technological assistance does not eliminate parental self-doubt or the emotional struggle inherent in raising children.
The conversation between Sam and the iMom about the biblical passage—“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing… Ye shall know them by their fruits.”—serves as the film's central metaphor.
Sam's Query: Sam asks the iMom, "Which one are you?"
iMom's Response: The iMom replies, "The truth is I'm neither. By their fruits. Ye shall know them. The world is the tree and I am the fruit."
The iMom's answer is a powerful closing statement on identity, motherhood, and the nature of care. By declaring itself the "fruit" of the world (the product of human technological desire), the iMom suggests that its existence reflects a societal choice: a collective desire to outsource the most arduous aspects of caregiving. The video invites a critical reflection on whether a shared responsibility between humans and machines is authentic, and how this dynamic redefines the essential emotional connection within the family.
Ultimately, the film blends humor, realism, and speculation, offering a nuanced exploration of how technology can blend practical support and increased parental freedom, while leaving the viewer to grapple with the delicate question: what exactly is the value of the "human touch" when the machine is tireless and seemingly perfect?
3. Anukul: The third is on Satyajit Ray's short story 'Anukul' (1976) - directed by Sujoy Ghosh
Anukul | Saurabh Shukla & Sujoy Gosh | Short Film I Royal Stag Barrel Select Shorts
The video presents a compelling narrative centered around the interactions between humans and advanced robots, particularly focusing on a robot named Anukul (also spelled Anukool). The dialogue explores themes such as artificial intelligence’s role in society, the emotional and social dynamics between humans and robots, and the ethical and legal considerations that arise from robot integration into human life.
Anukul is portrayed as a highly sophisticated AI model capable of learning from humans, performing various tasks, and even showing interest in reading and self-improvement. The human characters express varying emotions towards the robot—ranging from curiosity and acceptance to skepticism and conflict. The story unfolds with discussions about the replacement of human labor by robots, the consequences of such changes on personal relationships, and the legal framework regulating robot behavior and rights.
There is a strong emphasis on the coexistence of humans and robots within a household and society, highlighting the challenges and benefits of this integration. The transcript also delves into complex issues such as robot autonomy, the implications of robots "living" and "dying," and the moral responsibilities humans have towards these creations. The story concludes with revelations about inheritance, loss, and the valuation of property, underscoring the intertwining of technology, law, and human emotions.
Anukul as an Advanced AI Model: Anukul represents a highly sophisticated AI capable of learning from humans, adapting, and performing complex tasks. This reflects current trends in AI development where machines are designed not only to execute preprogrammed tasks but also to evolve through interaction and experience, blurring the lines between tools and companions.
Continuous Learning and Nonstop Operation: The robot’s ability to work 24/7 without fatigue or holidays highlights one of the major advantages AI has over humans—uninterrupted productivity. This also raises questions about the social and economic implications of AI replacing human labor, including job displacement and shifts in societal roles.
Domestic Integration of Robots: Anukul’s involvement in household activities like cooking and caregiving underscores how robots are increasingly integrated into personal spaces to enhance daily life. This intimate interaction changes human-robot dynamics, fostering emotional bonds but also potential dependency.
Legal and Ethical Frameworks for Robots: The transcript points out that robots have legal protections, and harming a robot results in penalties akin to harming a human. This suggests evolving legal definitions of personhood and rights, emphasizing the need to reassess ethical frameworks as robots gain autonomy and social presence.
Moral Ambiguity and Role Fluidity: The discussion about standing on the “right side” in conflicts and how roles shift depending on context reflects the complex human experience mirrored in robot interactions. It highlights that morality and duty are not fixed but situational, a concept important for programming AI to make ethical decisions.
Mortality and Succession in the Robot Era: The death of Anukul and the subsequent inheritance issues illustrate how technology intersects with human traditions like property and legacy. This raises profound questions about how societies will handle the “life cycle” of AI entities and their integration into legal and familial systems.
Economic Impact of AI and Property Rights: The mention of a substantial inheritance tied to the robot’s existence signals the growing economic significance of AI assets. This reflects how AI and robotics are becoming critical components of wealth, influencing estate planning, ownership rights, and economic power structures.
The video transcript offers a multifaceted exploration of AI’s expanding role in human life, from practical utility to deep ethical dilemmas, illustrating both the promise and challenges inherent in the human-robot relationship.
The story establishes Anukul as an integral presence, an advanced robot designed for comprehensive task performance and continuous learning. This capacity for uninterrupted productivity and involvement in intimate household activities (such as cooking and caregiving) immediately highlights the complex domestic integration of advanced AI.
A significant portion of the dialogue focuses on the legal and ethical frameworks governing this coexistence. The assertion that harming a robot incurs penalties akin to harming a human underscores a future where legal definitions of personhood are expanding. This legal focus is interwoven with philosophical discussions on moral ambiguity, with human characters debating how roles and ethical stances ("right side") shift based on context, a key challenge in programming ethical AI.
The narrative takes a dramatic turn with the death of Anukul. This event instantly converts the robot from a companion into a factor in succession and property rights. The revelation of a massive inheritance linked to this technological asset demonstrates the profound economic impact of AI on wealth and legacy. Ultimately, the story intricately connects the practical utility, ethical conundrums, emotional bonds, and significant financial implications of advanced robotics within human society.
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