“Analysis is often conjugated with
visualization in order to give graphical legibility to analytical results. Many of the
tools for visualization are still adopted wholesale from business graphics or from
the social and natural sciences, but this is beginning to change as data visualization
assumes an evermore central role in Digital Humanities scholarship.”
Burdick et al. “One: From Humanities to Digital Humanities,” in Digital_Humanities (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2012), 18.
Introduction:
There were several reasons I decided to take this course: it was recommended to me, I was interested in exploring the minor, and I wanted to dip my toes in the world of data viz.
Current Interests:
As a concept data viz is something that appeals to me because it incorporates several things I am interested in like: psychology, computer science, and perhaps statistics. In the context of this quote, analysis is described as processing text or data through quantitative or statistical means. The role of data viz is to add comprehensibility to the analysis. I like to think I’m more of a visual learner, so I find graphics illustrating data a much more intuitive path to understanding whatever I am analyzing (I think the same goes for most people, which is why it has become so widespread). On top of being interdisciplinary, I am interested in further exploring the humanities, so this feels like a natural link between the technical part of my brain to the more contemplative part.
Future Plans:
Like I briefly mentioned above, I hope to explore the humanities further; I have never taken a SOAN or PoliSci course, but I intend to before I graduate! Currently, I am attempting to delve into the world of early modern philosophy with only a rudimentary understanding of philosophical concepts. Despite this, I have enjoyed it so far as I expect it will stretch me like no other class. Holding abstract concepts in my head has proven tricky in the past, and it continues to do so today. Furthermore, I recently chatted with Eric Alexander (cs prof and class of 10′!) about his work in data viz, which further resolved my intention to take data viz with him before I graduate. Fingers crossed I can get in next term…so I don’t have to wait two years.
-Liam Keane, Jan 12
