From CUNY Academic Commons

Defining the Digital Humanities

A project in itself. Some in the Digital Humanities have come to feel that the term is too expansive to be useful; others welcome its capaciousness. See also Hot Topics below.

• You can get a feeling for the variety of perspectives from the Day of Digital Humanities project (see Conferences & Events below), which asks participants “How do you define Humanities Computing/Digital Humanities?” (link is to 2010 edition; the question is asked every year).
• The Wikipedia definition is extensive, but (at time of this writing) seems to elide issues that trouble people working in the field (e.g., where does DH work take place – only in DH departments? Does “Humanities Computing” equal “Digital Humanities”?).
• See also Patrik Svensson’s “The Landscape of Digital Humanities.” Digital Humanities Quarterly v4 n1 (Summer 2010).
• And Kathleen Smith’s “Q&A With Brett Bobley, Director of the NEH’s Office of the Digital Humanities.” HASTAC 1 Feb. 2009.