What the Hell is DH?

            While reading up and learning about Digital Humanities I realized that I am quite honestly a digital virgin. At the first mention of Digital Humanities I scoffed at the idea of Literature being in the form of text and code instead of black print on white paper. As an old fashioned kind of girl, I believe the best way to spend ones time is by sitting somewhere peaceful and reading a great novel to unwind (possible beer in hand). But regardless of my preferences, and my pre-determined opinions of Digital Humanities, my eyes have been opened to the large possibilities that lie within the realm of DH. As I rack my brain trying to create a sufficient definition to pair with the great DH, I find myself almost at a loss for words. Not because I am unable to comprehend the subject but because there is so much to say regarding the field of study.

            I refer to myself as a digital virgin because as I first heard the words Digital Humanities, I believed the whole thing to be too revolutionary for myself. I was ignorant to the numerous possibilities and to the vast array of genres that can be found within the digital world, as a virgin is ignorant to the idea and emotion of sexual arousal. As I delved deeper into the digital world I accepted the reality, that DH is going to change the way people read. The interactive literature is rather perfect for the generation of today. The over consumption of technology in youth leaves reading novels and short stories without a fighting chance. As the times become more digital and computerized less and less people are actually picking up books to read them (it’s so sad). So in my words, I believe Digital Humanities are exactly what these next generations need. In short they will now have access to digitally born literature as well as digitized literature through their cell phones that are connected permanently to their palms. Digital Humanities is the future for next generations who will have no idea what a novel looks like. As morbid as that sounds to all hard copy analog book enthusiasts, there will always be those who prefer the hard copy to hold and turn pages. The joy and love for the fresh smell of ink on pages will not die out completely but in the technologically driven world we live in, Digital Humanities will keep the arts alive in the young ones as they grow old and eventually turn into robots due to all of the electricity generated through their use of technology. But I digress. 

What is Digital Humanities? In my own words. 

           

            Digital Humanities= The creation of interactive, real life stories by using digital tools. Re-creating literature in a digital form, providing readers with actual experience through their senses of sound and sight, opposed to simply reading and using ones own imagination.

           

            Hayles brings to light this very question in her essay "Electronic Literature: What is it?", is literary quality possible in digital media, or is electronic literature demonstrably inferior to the print canon? I do believe that electronic literature does not have the same quality of plain old beautiful literature, but that is due to the fact that they have different qualities. I am almost tempted to look at these two subjects as two very different things standing on their own. Both have their own quality, not allowing me to compare them very easily. Yet again, I digress. But what is Digital Humanities?

             Digital Humanities= Fascinating