With DNA data and far-flung historical records, we can create powerful family stories. We can analyze the rhythmic patterns of popular music for the past 60 years to see the trends and influences. Willa Cather's letters are used to create a geographic chronology of the Cather’s travels, helping students to understand the effects of the writer’s travels on her writings. This course introduces us to digital humanities, the use of computer technology for scholarly research, analysis, and publication. We will explore the ways that these new methods give us fresh insights into the study of literature, history, art, music, and philosophy.
Karl Hakkarainen, a graduate of Amherst College and retired software engineer, is the technology adviser for WISE. He has taught WISE courses covering digital literacy, social networks, history, music, and intellectual property law.
NO REQUIRED BOOKS
