Introduction to Digital Humanities and Public Culture, Theories and Methods

A revolution is underway in humanities and social science research. Information and communication technologies are transforming the way in which students and scholars approach their subject matter. New questions arise when texts, images, and sound are rearranged in ways unimaginable before the digital age. The term 'digital humanities' refers to these changes and to the critical, epistemological, and methodological challenges they pose. This course provides an introduction to some of the most exciting areas in current digital humanities research, as well as an exploration of its history and impact as an interdisciplinary field, the theoretical issues it raises, and the major methodological debates it has provoked over the last few decades. Students will develop the analytical skills necessary for working at, and engaging with, the intersection of humanities and digital technologies. They will explore both the theoretical and practical foundations for working with cultural objects in the digital medium in ways relevant to languages, linguistics, history, literature, and many other humanities disciplines.No technical background is required.