The Digital, the Human(ities), and Me
How the digital world and the human world collide. What does this mean to me?
My Introduction
Hey, I'm Natalie Perez, and this is my portfolio regarding ENGL480: Digital Humanities History and Methods. As an Information Science and English Double Major who plans to become a librarian, I wanted to learn more about digital humanities as a whole since I believe my various interests intermingle within these thinking processes and methodologies. This class proved to be informative, though-provoking, and challenging, and I am thankful for the experiences I have gained out of our projects, especially since I entered this class with little experience with the digital humanities.
Throughout my portfolio, I hope to discuss and reflect on my various projects and assignments through specific lenses. On a personal standpoint regarding how I have learned, I hope to focus on creativity, information, and risk-taking, as I have hoped to make my works creative, informative, and challenging.
Relating to the digital humanities, I hope to discuss and reflect on how my projects and assignments demonstrate access, collaboration, and the fluidity of media, especially as these have all been major factors involved within my works.
Let's explore together!
My Digital Humanities Project
Tasked with searching for a digital humanities-based project to report on, I investigated my interests pertaining to the humanities. I am particularly fond of literatures pertaining to the horror genre and cinematic analyses, so I decided on searching for a project focused on how to use digital tools to conduct research on cinema, specifically horror cinema. Upon many searches, I found a project conducted by a master's student at Stockholm University; she incorporated data mining to analyze classic horror cinema from a queer perspective, and I was instantly interested in her project.
Utilizing "sprint planning," I worked with my peers to create a schedule for what needed to be done and when it needed to be done, and we all worked from there! I wanted to make sure I conveyed as much information as possible in my report, as I wanted someone with little experience working with data mining, cinematic analysis, and the horror genre to understand the workings of my chosen project. In order to do so, I strived to find more information. I conducted research regarding the relationship between classic horror cinema and queer spectatorship, and it was incredibly informative for me as a digital humanist, cinema buff, and horror buff. I was already aware of the relationship between horror literature and queer subtext, but I did not realize how much these influences impacted classic horror films. Utilizing this background information, I strived to further understand the data mining tools used in the project, so I researched the Media History Digital Library (MHDL), which became a resource I wanted to utilize for my own work within the digital humanities. I believe their tools of "Lantern" and "Project Arclight" are incredibly useful within the digital humanities, so I hoped to convey them fully. With this information, I began my report, as shown below!
Upon building my report for a few weeks, it was incredibly helpful to have collaboration with my peers. Utilizing our "sprint planning," we created a folder on Google Drive where we all uploaded our research and drafts, giving each other feedback and tips on the reports. I believe there is much to be learned from collaboration, especially amongst others like myself who were also learning more about the digital humanities as a whole through these projects. Collaborating and discussing digital humanities-related work is the very definition behind the digital humanities, in my opinion!
Later, upon utilizing Professor Anderson's feedback and more research, I revised my report, as shown below. I hoped to improve the flow, grammar, and overall length of the report, in order to more consistently and concisely report on the digital humanities project of my choice.
My Digital Humanities Project Video
After reporting on my chosen digital humanities project, I was tasked with creating a video report on the same project. In order to create the video, I had to learn to use Adobe Premiere Rush, which was a challenge in itself since I had no prior experience using the software. At first, I was pretty nervous about experimenting with it, but after spending so much time learning about it in class, I eventually became comfortable giving the software a chance.
I really, really wanted my video to be creative and nonconventional, but I thought, how can I do that if I don't have much experience with Rush? Well, that's where I began experimenting. My video would discuss a project about data mining to analyze classic films, but since they were horror films, I decided to use the software to both convey the project and the horror elements. I figured the utilization of creative decisions on my part would get across the importance and message of the digital humanities project even further, and by utilizing these digital tools to convey a message, I would be creating my own kind of digital humanities project. So, I used clips from classic horror films and incorporated spooky sound effects. Also, I used a YouTube video demonstrating the projection of old film lenses to give my own video that same "vintage" and "spooky" look—I layered this YouTube video under my own clips to give it an old-timey feeling. My storyboard/script and finalized video transcript are included below!
Fully utilizing the medium of video editing allowed me to both 1) report on the digital humanities project and 2) create my own kind of digital humanities project by conveying a message through my creative and digital decisions. These aspects of media demonstrate how one can utilize digital tools to supplement their message, especially if addressing a humanities-based subject. My video is included below!
My Individual Podcast
As a group, my peers and I planned to record a podcast, in class, regarding the topic of "insularity" in the digital humanities. Utilizing "sprint planning," we worked to create a schedule to finish tasks accordingly, and we each researched different topics regarding "insularity." I particularly focused on the insular culture of libraries and how this affects the digital humanities; ultimately, libraries are a vital tool within digital humanities, so the insular culture of libraries impacts the insular culture of digital humanities. After collecting our research, we compiled everything to create a script and establish a timeframe to discuss each topic in relation to insularity. Once conducting our group podcast, we went our separate ways to edit our own individual podcasts. Our group podcast is featured below!
My individual podcast incorporated so much risk-taking. For starters, Audacity was an entirely new software to me, as I had never used it before. I also had never heard of it before (I am so thankful I have now though)! Before, and during, my Spring Break, I made sure to consult some online manuals I found regarding the software in order to better understand the technicalities, especially when I wanted to use it to edit my own podcast. Audacity proved to be such a useful too, though, and honestly, I could really use it in the future when editing audio clips. Also, there was also a lot of risk-taking since this was the first project we had to complete and submit remotely (due to COVID-19, unfortunately). I was pretty nervous about this aspect of the project since I would not be able to receive feedback in a classroom setting; also, being at home with family was a hinderance to both my focus and time management. However, I persevered though all of these factors, and I created a podcast I am proud of! It is featured below!
I think my individual podcast demonstrates the topic of "access" within the digital humanities, as I decided to utilize the second prompt. I reworked our group podcast with my own narrative thread, and I decided to focus more heavily on libraries, insularity, and the digital humanities. Ultimately, I think this topic relates a lot to access, and it is a subject I find particularity important! In my individual podcast, I discuss the accessibility of materials in libraries, specifically how non-affiliated patrons typically have limitations to materials they can access in university libraries. This very idea of inaccessibility is an issue today, and since libraries are essentially hubs for the digital humanities, this issue extends to the digital humanities as well. This is an issue I think needs attention, and I was happy to be able to discuss it, especially in an academic setting.
My Pinterest Video
For this assignment, we planned to analyze the way in which Pinterest collects one's personal data in order to establish personalized results on their site. I believe I experimented a lot with information during this particular assignment, as I purposely wanted to provide Pinterest with information that would supply me with better results. I initially started with data scraping my own personal Pinterest account—I have had it since middle school!—in order to see if any of the images, data, or visualizations resulting from the searches correlated with my account. Afterwards, using a throwaway email, I created a Pinterest account for Mark Patterson, a fictional man from Charleston, Virginia. I made sure to conduct searches regarding home design and the outdoors, along with pinning images related to things that would not be found on my personal account. After data scraping Mark's account and comparing the results to my data, there were results suggesting Pinterest does, indeed, collect information to personalize results, as shown through my word clouds for the term "socks." I elaborate on my findings during my video, featured below!
For my Pinterest video, I wanted to experiment with the media aspects, as I did with my digital humanities video. I enjoyed utilizing the vertical video, even if made editing more challenging, since it allowed me to establish bold creative choices. I wanted my video to appear similar to the mobile interface of Pinterest, so I stacked my screen captures to appear as if they were pins within a board, or even a homepage. I wanted these media aspects to demonstrate that Pinterest collects data, and that I was also collecting data to make conclusions. I hoped this parallel would demonstrate how my creative choices also created their own argument.
Later, upon utilizing Professor Anderson's feedback and doing more planning, I revised my video, as included below. I hoped to bring attention to specific screen captures, similar to how certain pins would capture one's attention when on Pinterest, and improve the overall formatting of the screen captures. Therefore, I included some close-up images of my findings during the conclusion of the video. Also, I wanted to include more of Mark's account, so I highlighted more footage of his pins and boards by centering that footage in the frame. In addition, I removed unnecessary narration regarding logistical issues during the data collection since it distracted from my main point. Hopefully this revision conveys my findings and my argument more clearly!
My Portfolio Video
For my portfolio video, I decided to draw from my discussions on creativity, risk-taking, access, and the fluidity of media in relation to my learning process and the digital humanities. In order to do so, I discussed by experiences learning how to use Adobe Premiere Rush, specifically in utilizing it for my digital humanities video project, my Pinterest video revision, and the portfolio video itself. My storyboard and transcript highlighting my process are both included within the document below!
Below, you will find my portfolio video! It acts as a companion piece to this portfolio as I utilized it to elaborate on my overall reflection.
Other Tasks
Here, I am linking my reading comments, improv videos, peer reviews, and exit survey. I especially liked the information conveyed in the readings, the creativity involved with the improv videos, and the collaborative nature behind peer reviewing. Also, I enjoyed providing feedback on my Pinterest video through the exit survey. Despite being smaller parts of the curriculum, they were just as important to my learning process, and to the digital humanities as a whole.
Reading Comments:
Tuesday, April 7th (Pinterest Readings)
Improv Videos:
Peer Reviews:
Exit Survey
My Conclusion
Well, this is the end to my portfolio regarding ENGL480: Digital Humanities History and Methods. Overall, I am incredibly thankful for my experiences within this digital humanities-based class. It has heavily altered my way of thinking for the better, regarding both digital tools and the humanities. I feel more informed about the digital humanities, and I would like to pursue my own projects and discussions regarding the topic.
I have strived to make my work creative, informative, and challenging, and ultimately, I think it has paid off—I've learned a lifetime's worth regarding the digital humanities and its applications to both the digital and human world. Overall, you can find connections amongst subjects without even realizing they are there—as I have with my own two majors!
Thank you for a wonderful semester of challenges, surprises, and fun!
FIN