Decoding Digital Humanities

It’s a very exciting time for all things digital around UCL, with the launch of the Centre for Digital Humanities. At the same time, it gives cause for some thought about what Digital Humanities (DH) means. How is DH changing academia or contributing to society at large?

Myself (Claire R) and my colleague (Kathryn) are relatively new to the world of Digital Humanities and we thought it would be great to get together with other people interested in DH so we can share ideas, experiences and questions with others to explore together (lets face it a crew is always better than just you) the concept of DH and what it means to be a Digital Humanist, so we have set up a informal group, Decoding Digital Humanities as a place where anyone can come to find out more about the latest ideas in and about digital humanities.

Want to get involved, keep up to date with current work and new developments? Then join us at the Jeremy Bentham Pub (details below) for an informal gathering, to mingle, share ideas and experiences, discuss readings and questions with other digital humanities folk. Ready to explore together the concept of DH and what it means to be a Digital Humanist? Then say hello to Decoding Digital Humanities!

The first Decoding Digital Humanities evening will kick off with a discussion about what Digital Humanities is, whether anyone has a definitive answer, where the discipline has come from and where we can take it. We are going to start off with a classic, Walter Benjamin’s The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction and then move on to a general discussion of the Wikipedia article on DH, easing everyone in gently and utilising web 2.0 technology at the same time. Make sure to check out the questions on the Wikipedia ‘Discussion’ tab as well!

DATE
16 March, 5.30pm-7.00pm

LOCATION:

On 16^th March , 5.30pm-7pm
At Jeremy Bentham pub, 31, University St, London, WC1E 6JL (map)

READINGS FOR DISCUSSION:
Benjamin, W. 1992 [1936]. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. INST ARCH 3580 Teaching Collection (copy x 1); MAIN 1612 Teaching Collection (copy x 2); SCIENCE 4802 Teaching Collection (copy x 3), OR

Benjamin, W. 1936. the Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

Wikipedia Digital Humanities Page

This event is free and open to UCL staff and students, and their guests. RSVP appreciated but not required. If you can’t make this date but are interested in future events, send us a quick email (claire.ross@ucl.ac.uk or k.piquette@ucl.ac.uk) to register your interest and we’ll add you to the DDH e-list!

To find out more about us, you can see our quick bio’s here : Claire Ross and Kathryn Piquette