Comments on: Don’t Panic

By: Jenny Ross

Jenny Ross — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 02:25:16 +0000

Thanks, everyone, for the words of encouragement!

By: Kelly Curtis

Kelly Curtis — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:41:30 +0000

I think this is an important observation. Learning tools is a challenge especially when we see our skills as being elsewhere, but once we make a commitment to a specific tool or technology, the possibilities are outstanding.

By: Erik White

Erik White — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:26:55 +0000

I think I feel like we are experiencing a lot of the same trepidation here on the west coast as well. I feel like it is all well and good to discuss what things are called, and make sure we have our parameters right, but a lot of what I see going on, is a semantic debate that draws attention away from the subject matter, which I believe is at the heart of any good digital project.

Without a strong background in computers it is possible to make a pretty good site using the tools available, so long as you have the material to back it up. Whereas without solid material to ground a project, it is only so many bells and whistles, but stands little chance of being viewed as scholarly, or capable of teaching us something.

So of my own volition I have spent a majority of my time reading and explaing the text I chose to explicate as part of the project. I have felt like all this discussion of tools, and the focus on the digital aspects of our projects, may be drawing our energies away from the discovery and research of content that can make our projects really interesting.

It seems we need to focus more on content fitting with form, and the form should fit the tools appropriate for them. If the content isn’t there, no one will care.

I think the most successful platforms allow us to change the form of the project as it goes along. And without significant research, it seems we won’t be able to be very relevant in the future. I want our project to be a legitimate learning tool, whatever platform we choose.

By: Randy holaday

Randy holaday — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:19:17 +0000

Jessica-I had a similar experience trying to figure out this whole Digital Humanities thing and how it relates to the work I’m used to doing studying literature (if you look at my post “Easing the Unease of a Literary Group member” over at the BeardStair project you can see how my grumpy-ness manifested itself). I think what worked for me, more than realizing that failure is inevitable, was really starting to rely on the tools that DH purports–collaboration, digital collections, archives, etc.–and forcing myself to see them as different roads to reach the same goals, not hurdles I have to jump over in order to communicate my “literary” chops to the digital arena. Have you been able to resolve the issues that you sound hopeful about it this post?

By: Genevieve Sanvictores

Genevieve Sanvictores — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:16:44 +0000

I remember my first day of Grad School I had a full on panic attack because the other students knew all of the canonical British Romantic writers and I couldn’t name one! I felt defeated my first day of class and questioned whether or not I belonged there. Feeling frustrated comes with the territory. I remember Dr. Harris told us, “I know you guys all think you are faking it in Grad school, but you’re not, so stop thinking like that.” So the best advice I can give you is, Stop. Work hard and trust in yourself. Sometimes things take a little longer than we anticipate.

By: A. Papoulias

A. Papoulias — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:16:17 +0000

Ha! Oh boy can I relate to feeling technologically inferior and like a lecture called Digital Dialogues wouldn’t apply to me. That’s incredible about computers detecting comedy, tragedy, etc by observing pronoun patterns though. I think once I’m able stop considering myself a computer novice I’ll find a fascinating world waiting for me.

By: Matthew Kirschenbaum

Matthew Kirschenbaum — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:55:57 +0000

You’re doing it right. And let me (or Paul) know if you want further help getting PM up and running.