Hey all! My name is Lua and I use she/her pronouns. I’m a senior with an ANSO major and a self-designed minor in information sciences.
I chose this class as a requirement for my minor because the digitization of history is a huge topic in library/information sciences right now and I’m really excited to learn more about it. After looking through the syllabus, I saw things I would have usually associated with digital histories like Metadata and online archives in the first two weeks of class. When I looked at weeks 4 and 5 when we will discuss video games and podcasts, I was even more excited because I was reminded that these are huge ways that history is utilized in popular culture. I think because I work in an academic library, I usually don’t get to interact with history in parts of culture deemed “non-academic” unless it’s in my spare time. I personally think what we consider “academic” in fields like this should be broadened way more.
I don’t usually play video games but I am very familiar with podcasts and video essays so I am excited to both try new things and apply what I may already know to new ideas from this class. I’m actually really excited to play the Oregon Trail because I have heard a lot about it from friends but never played it myself. The one thing I realize I am nervous about is navigating technology that I am unfamiliar with. I am often a very hands-on learner so learning things through a computer can be more challenging. It can take me a few tries before I really get the hang of something so hopefully, I am not too slow in figuring out applications like Mukurtu and Voyant. In my experiences in the library and information science, there are a lot more digital-born historical artifacts that people want to preserve and archive. It’s a different process compared to preserving something physically and I’m really interested in learning more about it. I’m still trying to figure out how I truly define “digital history” but that’s why I was so intrigued by this class in the first place.
Hi Lua! Thank you for joining the class and introducing yourself– I’m glad you’re here! I look forward to hearing more about your experience working with the library and how this influences your approach towards the topics discussed in class.
I am also looking forward to weeks 4 and 5. In fact, the video game week was a last-minute edition to the course, only after realizing how much content is out there on Indigenous representations in video games. I think it will produce an engaging and productive conversation. Regarding your comment about history and popular culture, I completely agree that “broadening” how we define scholarship is important. I know a handful of PhD students who pursued a digital/creative project (like developing a video game) instead of writing a traditional dissertation. Universities and colleges seem to be leaning towards a more “open” approach of what “scholarship” is, and I think this is a welcome change in the academy.
I am hoping this class will encourage everyone to try new, unfamiliar things in a hands-on environment. All questions/concerns are encouraged, and I can assure you that others are likely to be wondering the same exact thing! As you pointed out, history is increasing moving into digital formats, and it is up to us to adapt with changing the way we consider, preserve, and present the past 🙂