This final class class in the Studio DH module will focus on hacking. From its initial pejorative associations with illicit computer activity, “hacking” (and its politicized nominal, hacktavism) have entered the collective lexicon as terms for a wide spectrum of behaviors, most having to do with disruption, circumvention, modification, and intervention. What does it mean to think about the role of “hacking” in the humanities? Does one have to be a hacker to be a digital humanist? What does hacking have to do with writing code? With building things? And with things?

READINGS

Presentation: Cliffie

• Ramsay and Rockwell, “Building in the Digital Humanities” (DDH)
• Losh, “Hacktivism and the Humanities” (DDH)
• Bogost, “The Turtlenecked Hairshirt” (DDH; also online, with comments)
• Zoran and Buechley, “Hybrid Reassemblage: An Exploration of Craft, Digital Fabrication and Artifact Uniqueness” (PDF)
• Sample, “What’s Wrong with Writing Essays” (DDH)

Image: http://bgr.com/2012/04/19/time-accused-of-hacking-anonymous-hackers-position-on-time-100-list/

EXERCISE

Your Twine story (or game) is due. You may submit the HTML output file to me either via email or on a thumb drive (which I am happy to return). You may also place it on the Web and simply send me the URL. This portion of the exercise will receive a letter grade.

FIELDWORK AUDIT

Please send a brief accounting of your fieldwork activities to date (including points earned) to me by the time the class meets.

FIELDWORK

Dean’s Lecture Series: Cathy Davidson in Conversation