What is/are Digital Humanities?

The Digital Humanities are a diverse group of disciplines unified by one core aspect, digital technology. Due to its diverse nature, no single definition has the ability to encompass all that falls within the term Digital Humanities. Rather, a working definition that can be applied to many different disciplines seems to be more sufficient. From social networks, to archives on virtually every document ever written, we begin to see the size and scope of what the Digital Humanities actually include. As Kathleen Fitzpatrick explains, “The field’s background in humanities computing typically, but far from exclusively, results in projects that focus on computing methods applicable to textual materials.” Fitzpatrick touches on one facet as to what  Digital Humanist actually do, while eluding to the various other possibilities and applications in the DH world. In summation, Digital Humanities can be defined as using modern day, digital technology to study the traditional humanities, as well as studying modern digital artwork through the lens of contemporary humanities concepts.

Boston College Digital Humanities Terms

Digital Humanities is one of the newest disciplines within the Humanities.  Many people are still trying to figure out how to define Digital Humanities in a way that everyone will understand it, but this may end up being an impossible task for those trying to do so.  DH is becoming more and more an area of study using the various technologies that we are able to get our hands onto in the 21st century.  As stated by Kathleen Fitzpatrick in, “The Humanities, Done  Digitally”, Kathleen goes onto say that digital humanities is starting to grow into “humanities computing”. Humanities computing could mean a variety of things like; archiving, using digital means to write poems/works of literature, etc. Kathleen also states that one of the projects already started in the discipline of Digital Humanities is the “production of a large-scale digital text collection for scholarly studies”.  I would have to agree with Kathleen in that, archiving is the next big thing to happen for all of the pieces of literature, poems, and works of art that have been produced in history.  Other means of digital enhancement could help to preserve history and allow future generations to use the technology that has evolved.  By the time our children have children, maybe a definitive definition will be in stone to define Digital Humanities, but on the other hand, probably not!

The Digital Humanities, there is no definitive 
definition.  It is personal to everyone who attempts to define it, different with each person.  For me, it is defined as the study of human culture, communication, and interaction, through the digital realm.  Culture without followers Communication without a voice. Interaction without a face.  Nothing can define the digital humanities yet.  That fact may change within the next decade.  As technology evolves, so will our culture, communication, and interactions.  New ideas will arise, and old beliefs will fall.  It’s crazy how fast the evolution of technology has happened.  Not even two centuries ago the light bulb was the pinnacle of technology. Handwritten letters delivered on horseback dominated communication for thousands of years, now we have the instantaneous use of the internet.  Just a few decades ago, “digital humanities” were two words never uttered in the same sentence. Now we struggle to define it, but we all have a very basic idea on what it could be.  Its potential could be limitless.  It is our responsibility to see if that is true.

The digital humanities are a developing field melding the utilization of digital technologies in the exploration of creative elements of the humanities.  This expands to multiple branches. Simple archival of written works was only the beginning.  Now immersive digital narratives in virtual realities are crafted entirely by digital means.  The works are as digital as they are literary, and they cannot be fully experienced without the technologies inherent in their design. Perhaps unfortunately, it seems as though the definition of digital humanities may be beyond the scope of any individual to define or realize.  “With over 800 definitions provided by the experts it seems as though the digital humanities are what we make them.”  This is an ironic description considering the profound creative potential that can be realized with access to modern digital tools.  I am less excited about the definition, however, and much more so about the ramifications.  For me, the most fascinating application of digital humanities is in media designed, created, and consumed within the constraints of digital technology.  In-class observations such as eternally-magnifiable photo-poetry or location-based essays crafted through “Google Maps” yield an interesting perspective on how a medium crafted to convey raw data can be used for much more than that: a story; a segment of relatable human experience. My discipline focuses on the digital: raw data and the hardware and software involved in its existence and processing.  It is encouraging to consider applications of technology beyond that, a sort of creative endeavor between man and machine, and I am excited to explore further and refine my definition.