Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 17, No. 111.
Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/humanist/
Submit to: humanist@princeton.edu
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 08:45:21 +0100
From: "Patrik Svensson" <patrik.svensson@engelska.umu.se>
Subject: RE: 17.066 history in terms
Dear Willard,
This is an interesting issue (thanks for bringing it up). I wonder about
what is progress or development here. I feel that both "computing in the
humanities" and "humanities computing" have an "instrumental ring" to
them. We use "the humanities and information technology" (in Swedish) to
put emphasis on the importance of bringing the two together (as
approximate equals but with "the humanities" first), and to include
studies of "cyberspace" as well as the use of technology as a tool and
creative/artistic use of technology etc. I find "information technology"
more inclusive and less instrumental than "computing" or "computers". I
am not saying that this is necessarily better, but I think it reflects
our goals: promoting humanities perspectives on technology and creating
a meeting place between the humanities and technology (and the people
representing these sides) starting out from the humanities side and not
excluding technology as an integral part of what we do (and as a
consequence the physical HUMlab abounds with technology as well as
books, an aquarium, colors, sofas and people communicating). We have had
no problems with "selling" this label, and there has been a great deal
of national interest in the area (we are probably helped here by our
name as well - HUMlab - which is concise and to the point).
Patrik Svensson
---------------------------------------------------
Patrik Svensson, HUMlab, Ume University, Sweden
http://www.humlab.umu.se/patrik/
http://www.humlab.umu.se/
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Humanist Discussion Group
> [mailto:humanist@Princeton.EDU] On Behalf Of Humanist
> Discussion Group (by way of Willard McCarty
> <willard.mccarty@kcl.ac.uk>)
> Sent: den 7 juni 2003 08:44
> To: humanist@Princeton.EDU
> >
>
> Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 17, No. 66.
> Centre for Computing in the Humanities, King's College London
> www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/humanist/
> Submit to: humanist@princeton.edu
>
>
>
> Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2003 07:12:13 +0100
> From: Willard McCarty <willard.mccarty@kcl.ac.uk>
> Subject: history in terms
>
> I would very much like comment on the hypothesis that the
> development of our field is historically marked in three
> stages by the terms we have used to name it, as follows:
>
> (1) "computers and the humanities", which posits two distinct
> and separated entities that put in juxtaposition suggest an
> initial realization that they have or might have something to
> do with each other;
>
> (2) "computing in the humanities", which shifts attention
> from the rapidly shrinking physical box and names an activity
> that is commonly found within the practices of the humanities;
>
> (3) "humanities computing", which takes advantage of the
> ability in English to adjectivize the noun "humanities" but
> simultaneously to counterbalance its subordination by placing
> it before its now governing noun "computing"
> -- which is, as above, present-participial in force; the
> result nicely encapsulates a computing that is of as well as
> in the humanities.
>
> Yours,
> WM
>
>
> Dr Willard McCarty | Senior Lecturer | Centre for Computing
> in the Humanities | King's College London | Strand | London
> WC2R 2LS || +44 (0)20 7848-2784 fax: -2980 ||
> willard.mccarty@kcl.ac.uk www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/wlm/
>
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