Digital Humanities is still something that is relatively new to me. I was introduced to it in the spring of 2018, when one of my history professors declared that a large portion of graded materials would be digital projects. I went through a whole range of emotions. First it was indifference. I’m a great student, I can totally handle whatever is thrown at me. Next, unease. I don’t know anything about HTML coding or digital platforms. Then, worry because what was being asked of me was completely foreign. Eventually, I felt cautiously excited when I made small gains like when my HTML doesn’t break. After experimenting with StoryMap and Timeline JS, I was intrigued with what a digital platform could add to my argument. This whole process opened my eyes to a whole other side to academia, specifically in the humanities sphere.
I am now writing the first born-digital undergraduate thesis in the SDSU History Department’s record. It will not be done until the end of this semester (spring 2019) so I have been struggling with how my thesis will manifest itself. So far, I have been considering using a Timeline JS timeline or a Google Site. My thesis is on the history of imperial Roman women, using ten different women as case studies. Divided into four sections, my argument is based off of the differing dynasties, so I am not sure what will best serve my argument.
At first, I was dead set on piecing together my project from multiple platforms (Adobe Spark, Timeline JS, Google Site). However, as my thesis has grown and shifted I have come to the conclusion that sticking with one platform will be better for user experience. None of the strides that I am making would have been possible if not for one professor pushing me out of my comfort zone and introducing me to digital humanities.
Click here to see the project that inspired me to continue with my DH journey.